Support Resources

• Caregiving Glossary
• 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
  • Dealing with Difficult Behavior fact sheet from the National Caregivers Library
  • Family Caregivers Online - Behavior and Emotions of Aging
  • Family Caregiver Alliance - Behavior Management Strategies
• Legal topics to consider
  • Family Caregivers Online - Legal Issues
• End of Life
  • Family Caregivers Online - End of Life Issues
• Housing
  • Family Caregivers Online – Housing Options and Long Term Care

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255

Crisis Call Center - 775-784-8090 or 1-800-273-8255

Compassionate assistance to people in any type of crisis

Friendship Line - 1-800-971-0016

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

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.

• Caregiver Nation (caregivernation.org)
  • Caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias
• 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? 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

Helpful Fact Sheet:

• Taking Care of YOU: Self-Care for Family Caregivers

Nutrition Resources:

• nutrition.gov

Other Resources:

• Physical Activity
• Exercise and Caregiving
• Disease-Specific Nutrition
• Mental and Emotional Health

• AARP
• Eldercare Locator - 1.800.677.1116
• Caregiver Action Network (CAN)
• Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
• Stroke - 1-800-STROKES (787-6537)
• Brain Injury Association of America
• Serious Mental Illness - 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Disability.gov
• U.S. Living Will Registry®
• MedlinePlus: End of Life Issues
• Dementia/Alzheimer’s - 1-800-272-3900
• Family Caregiver Alliance - 1-800-445-8106
• National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD)