Support Resources
- 1-866-912-6285 (Relay 711)
Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Center
- You can find educational videos created by the UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program. The videos cover:
- Sundowning
- Wandering
- Bathing
- Repetition
- Hallucinations
- Refusal to take medications
- Alzheimers.gov has material about the diagnosis, training and support for caregivers.
- The Family Caregiver Alliance put together a fact sheet to help caregivers understand behaviors typical of those living with dementia.
- Home safety tips by the Alzheimer’s Association
Coping with Challenging Behaviors
- Behavior and Emotions of Aging - Family Caregivers Online
- Behavior Management Strategies - Family Caregiver Alliance
Legal topics to consider
End of Life
Housing
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255
Crisis Call Center
Compassionate assistance to people in any type of crisis - 1-775-784-8090 or 1-800-273-8255
Friendship Line
A crisis hotline and a warmline for non-urgent calls. This line provides support services such as:
- Suicide prevention
- Emotional support
- Elder abuse prevention and therapy
- Well-being checks
- Grief support
- Information and referrals for older adults or adults with disabilities - 1-800-971-0016
Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Support Line - 1-800-272-3900
211 Program
The 2-1-1 program is a free, private service to help find local resources, including:
- Food and nutrition programs
- Shelter and housing resources
- Utilities support
- Disaster relief
- Employment
- Addiction prevention and rehabilitation programs
- Reentry support for ex-offenders
- Support groups
- Safe help out of an abusive situation
Call 2-1-1 to speak with a service expert in your area.
- Smart Patients Caregiver Community
- A partnership between Family Caregiver Alliance and Smart Patients to create an online community for individuals and their caregivers.
- Find a nearby support group by calling your local Area Agency on Aging or using the Eldercare Locator
- AARP Online Caregiver Community
- Alzheimer’s/Dementia Specific: ALZConnected®
- Caregiver Action Network’s Care Community
Caring for someone is rarely easy and can take much of your time. To help care for a loved one, caregivers need to make time to care for themselves.
Keep in mind the tips below to help you take care of yourself:
- No one is perfect. You will make mistakes.
- Many emotions surface when you are caring for another.
- Depression is a common experience while caregiving.
- Think you may be affected by caregiver depression? Read more about Depression - What it is and What it is Not
- Give yourself and your loved one honest expectations.
- Use the info and resources available to you.
- Know the skills needed to care for your loved one. Be honest about what you can and cannot do.
- Learn to say No.
- Take help from others.
- Be resilient.
- Know your own stress triggers.
- For successful coping:
- Eat right
- Exercise
- Sleep
Taking Care of YOU: Self-Care for Family Caregivers Fact Sheet
Nutrition Resources:
Other Resources:
AARP
aarp.org
Brain Injury Association of America
BIAUSA.org
Caregiver Action Network (CAN)
Caregiveraction.org
Dementia/Alzheimer’s
ALZ.org
1-800-272-3900
Disability
Disability.gov
Eldercare Locator
1.800.677.1116
Eldercare.gov
Family Caregiver Alliance
Caregiver.org
1-800-445-8106
Medicaid
Medicaid.gov
Medicare
Medicare.gov
MedlinePlus: End of Life Issues
Medlineplus.gov/endoflifeissues.html
National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD)
Nasuad.org
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
POLST.org
Serious Mental Illness
NAMI.org
1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
Stroke
Stroke.org
1-800-STROKES (787-6537)
U.S. Living Will Registry®
uslivingwillregistry.com