Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiving Resources
In Wisconsin, there are more than 205,000 caregivers supporting a family member or other loved one living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. Caring for a loved one living with dementia is a role that can be rewarding, but also challenging and all-consuming.
First Steps After a Diagnosis
There are resources available to help you or a loved one after receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. It’s important to learn about resources in your area – for example, in Wisconsin there are Dementia Care Specialists in each county, and connecting with them is a good starting point. Next, it’s important to learn about dementia and to visit your doctor as recommended. Visit our webpage, After a Dementia Diagnosis, for an overview of information you might need and how to get started.
Wisconsin Resources
Aging and Disability Resource Center caregiver resources
Links to caregiver support groups, adult day services and respite care, information about location tracking and more.
Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center classes: Our campus partners at the Wisconsin ADRC offer education and wellness programs for caregivers and people living with dementia or MCI, including the Get Movin’ program, Healthy Living with MCI, and Men in Motion fitness classes.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services online caregiving training (Link opens in vimeo)
A video tutorial for family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Information includes strategies for caring for a loved one with dementia. Video run time is 1.21 hours.
Wisconsin’s Family Caregiver Support Programs — A statewide program that provides information and assistance to help people better care for their loved ones – and themselves. The program is available for family members and friends who care for a person 60 years or older or someone with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder regardless of age.
Alzheimer’s Association Wisconsin Chapter — Serving the state of Wisconsin, the Association provides reliable information and care consultation, creates supportive services for families, increases funding for dementia research, and influences public policy changes. Search the association’s list of Support Groups.
Area Agency on Aging — A Dane County service for adults 60 and over or their families that provides access to services that help seniors stay in their homes.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Institute on Aging — An organization that studies the biology of aging, clinical geriatrics, life-span development and social gerontology.
Sharing Active Independent Lives (S.A.I.L.) — A membership organization for people 55+ that provides a wide array of services to help people stay independent.
The Center for Aging Research and Education (CARE) at the UW-Madison School of Nursing offers a series of training videos in its Dementia Friendly Toolkit, developed to build communication and advocacy skills to respectfully engage people living with dementia.
From Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute
What to Expect at a Memory Assessment Appointment
Dementia Caregivers Isolation Toolkit
Improving Daily Life of a Person with Dementia
Live a full life: Lifestyle Recommendations to Maximize Brain Health
Free webinars from the Wisconsin Dementia Resource Network
Sing along with The Amazing Grace Chorus®
Caring for a family member with dementia – resources from Dr. Mora Pinzon’s lab
WAI YouTube Playlist: Videos for Caregivers
National and Online Resources
Alzheimer’s.gov is a federal website with resources, articles, and updates about dementia caregiving
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America has a comprehensive Caregiver’s Resources webpage. Their webpage, The Apartment, has a guide for home safety and a video tour of a dementia-friendly home.
National Institute on Aging: Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center (ADEAR)
Caregiving resources on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia caregiving, including legal and financial tips, safety advice, communication changes and more
The Eldercare Locator can help you find resources in your area, including in-home help, transportation, and modifications to make a person’s home safer and easier to get around.
Information and guides from the National Institute on Aging
Information for Long-Distance Caregivers
Behavior Changes and Communication in Alzheimer’s disease
Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s Disease
Relationships and family roles in Alzheimer’s disease
Caregiver Phone Lines
AFA Helpline: Alzheimers Foundation of America phone line to call or text AFA social workers. Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET every day. Call (866) 232-8484.
VA Caregiver Support Phone Line: 1-855-260-3274 is a toll-free phone support line for veterans and their caregivers, family members or friends. Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.
ADEAR Phone Line and Chat Assistant: Staff from the Alzheimer’s and related Dementias Education and Referral Center (ADEAR) can answer questions about caregiving, living with dementia and finding local resources. Contact the ADEAR Center at (800) 434-4380 or email adear@nia.nih.gov. There is also an AI virtual chat assistant available on the ADEAR website.
Alzheimer’s Association Support Line: The Alzheimer’s Association helpline is a free service offering support for people living with dementia, caregivers, families and the public. Call 800.272.3900 or fill out their online contact form.
Frontotemporal Dementia Hotline: The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration has a phone line to call to learn information and resources for caring for people with FTD. Call 1-866-507-7222 or email info@theaftd.org
Lewy Body Dementia Association: For people diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and their family members or caregivers. Call 1-800-539-9767 or email support@lbda.org