A pioneer in Alzheimer care and support, the Association continued in fiscal year 2008 to expand programs and services for those living with Alzheimer’s.

To further the first nationwide dialogue about Alzheimer’s disease by people with Alzheimer’s, we launched an interactive Web site for people in the early stages of the disease. This virtual town hall provides people with Alzheimer’s a forum for speaking out and sharing stories. To further empower people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and to learn from them, we hosted a series of Early-Stage Town Hall Meetings in cities across the country.

To improve the safety of those with dementia, we partnered with the MedicAlert Foundation to create MedicAlert® + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return®, a 24-hour emergency response service for wandering and medical emergencies. Now, when someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia wanders, one call immediately activates a community support network. And when a person is found, the identification pendant or bracelet provides a 24-hour emergency response number, as well as important health information. 

To simplify and expedite caregivers’ search for appropriate care, we launched CareSource, an online suite of services that helps caregivers plan, locate and coordinate care for their loved ones. CareSource includes CareFinder, as well as two new features, Lotsa Helping Hands and Senior Housing Finder.

To educate African-Americans on their increased risk for stroke and Alzheimer’s, we partnered with the American Heart Association and its American Stroke Association division, to launch a joint public-awareness program called "What's Good for Your Heart is Good for Your Brain." Timed to coincide with Black History Month and American Heart Month, the campaign offered tips for reducing the risk of stroke, and managing heart and brain health.

The Association expanded its outreach efforts to Latino families with a new Spanish-language Family Resource Kit. Filled with information on caregiving, Alzheimer’s basics and the connection to diabetes, the kits were made possible by a grant from the MetLife Foundation and distributed at community health fairs in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Antonio.

To broaden our reach and support more non-English speakers, we launched an Asian-language portal that includes vital information about the disease, warning signs and caregiver tips in Mandarin Chinese.

At the annual Alzheimer's Association Dementia Care Conference, we released the third set of Dementia Care Practice Recommendations for Assisted Living Residences and Nursing Homes and hosted the first nationally sponsored Family Forum, a special daylong session dedicated to supporting the needs of family caregivers. These recommendations are intended for all levels of dementia care providers in residential care settings to help them improve care at the end of life. 

As part of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month, and thanks to the generosity of Coach Broyles, the Association offered Coach Broyles’ Playbook for Alzheimer’s Caregivers free to the public beginning in November 2007. Written by Frank Broyles, the famed former football coach and athletic director of the University of Arkansas, Playbook is a practical, how-to guide for family members caring for someone with Alzheimer's.

The Green-Field Library launched AskAway, a virtual reference service. With AskAway, people can submit a specific question to the Association’s librarians, or connect to librarians across the country via live chat any time of night or day. The Green-Field Library is the nation’s largest library and resource center devoted to increasing knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

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