Providing care and support for a family member living with dementia is made easier with the right resources. Many organisations exist specifically aimed for families and caregivers to ensure they have the information, materials, and peer support needed to provide the highest quality of life and make the most of every minute. Relish has assembled several resources that caregivers have found invaluable, and family members rely on regularly.
Ten Must-See Resources For Family Caregivers Of Dementia
The Alzheimer's Association
The US-based Alzheimer's Association is probably the biggest and most successful dementia support and research operation in the world. Their website contains countless pages of useful advice and resources you can call upon, as well as up-to-date information on dementia research.
Pathways Through Dementia
Some of the toughest challenges when caring for people living with dementia aren’t necessarily healthcare related but rather legal in nature. Pathways Through Dementia is a resource focused specifically on offering legal advice and help for dealing with matters such as wills, powers-of-attorney, and similar planning.
DementiaAdventure.co.uk
Here's a concept everyone can get behind – an organisation focused on arranging outings and holidays for people with dementia, as well as their families. They also offer seminars and other training sessions too. (Check out their virtual events while social distancing remains in effect)
Elderly Accommodation Counsel
Finding appropriate housing for older people, especially those with dementia, can be an uphill climb. The Elderly Accommodation Counsel is a non-profit providing advice and assistance in finding the right housing for aging family and friends.
DementiaUK.org
Dementia UK comes highly recommended and their support page is a wealth of information about financial resources and government aid that you may qualify for. Caregiving is expensive, and dementiaUK.org can point you in the direction of making it a little more attainable.
AgeUK.org
AgeUK is another excellent all-around website with information for helping people care for loved ones with all manner of age-related issues. Their help and support also includes a free 24-hour advice hotline you can call at any time.
Memory Cafe Directory
Memory Cafes are independently run cafes or activity centres catering specifically for those with dementia and their caregivers. During the Coronavirus lockdown, many have moved to having online meetings as well. This website has listings for Memory Cafes in several countries, including the UK.
These two sites are run and operated by different groups but have the same basic purpose: providing support services for anyone providing unpaid caregiving.
Rare Dementia Support
Is your loved one suffering from a less-common form of dementia, making it hard for you to find resources? Rare Dementia Support is an organisation founded specifically for people with other forms of memory loss. Check out their emergency kit for people with dementia for support tools and resources that can help you during COVID and the pandemic.
