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You may be in the midst of the journey of Alzheimer's, but we want you to know we are by your side every step of the way. The Heart of America Chapter has resources, educational programs, and services for those with memory loss, their families, and care partners. If you don't see the resources you need within the links below, please call us directly at 913.831.3888 or toll free at 1.800.272.3900. We are here to help. |
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24-hour Information and Support |
Resources
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Support
24-Hour Information and Support
The Alzheimer's Association Information and Support line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in 140 languages. Our staff is highly trained and knowledgeable about all aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. Call us if you have questions about:
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Alzheimer’s disease or memory loss, medications and treatment options, brain health and care options
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How the Association can help you
- Services available in your community and referrals
You can also call us for emotional support –– as often as you need. We know that living with Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming at times. Remember, we are here for you –– all day, every day.
E-mail help
If you prefer, send us a message at jeanne.reeder@alz.org. We check the e-mail box daily and will respond to your inquiry within 48 hours.
One-to-One Conversation
Our professional staff is dedicated to helping you navigate through the difficult decisions and uncertainties that individuals with Alzheimer's and their families face. Contact a Chapter office near you to arrange a one-to-one conversation between you and a Heart of America staff member. Staff will answer your questions about what early stage Alzheimer's disease means and help you with management strategies. Contact a Chapter office near you.
Early Stage Programs
Early Stage Programs include Let's Talk, Project LEARN, Sharing Hope Empowerment Group and Expression Through Collage. Descriptions of each program follow:
LET'S TALK
Let's Talk is a Missouri service for people with early stage memory loss who would like to receive friendly calls from someone else who has mild memory loss. The program provides a supportive environment where people can talk freely about the effects of dementia on their lives. Call recipients must live in the state of Missouri. Contact Michelle Niedens at 913.831.3888 or michelle.niedens@alz.org for more information.
Project LEARN
Project LEARN (Listen, Educate, Adjust, Resolve, Navigate) is a program developed for individuals newly diagnosed in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease. An Alzheimer's Association Care Consultant will assist you and your family in developing a comprehensive, individualized, and self-directed care plan that includes disease management strategies for emotional and daily living needs. The Care Consultant can come to your home or he/she can meet you at a Heart of America Chapter office. To meet with a LEARN Care Consultant, please contact Karen Clond at 913.831.3888 or karen.clond@alz.org.
Project LEARN also offers a brief educational program for individuals, newly diagnosed in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease, and their families called "So You Have Been Newly Diagnosed with Alzheimer's." The two hour educational session will cover disease overview information as well as discuss issues around sharing diagnosis with others, support tips in managing short term memory issues, common questions in management and planning consideration. For more information on this program and other educational opportunities for individuals with mild memory loss contact Karen Clond at 913.831.3888 or karen.clond@alz.org.
Sharing Hope Empowerment Group
Sharing Hope empowerment Group meets in St. Joseph, Missouri on the last Tuesday of the month. This group of individuals are in the early stage of dementia and participate in projects that make a difference to others. Projects can be dementia-centered and might include advocacy efforts, dementia awareness efforts, and/or disease-education efforts. Other projects may address a community need that is unrelated to dementia. The goal of this group is to provide individuals with dementia the opportunity to increase meaningful and fulfilling experiences in their lives, while coping with Alzheimer's disease or related disorder. Members of this group also act as a support network for one another. If you are interested in participating in sharing Hope Empowerment Group contact Brenda Gregg at 816.364.4467 or brenda.gregg@alz.org.
Expressions Through Collage
Expressions Through collage meets in Warrensburg, Missouri on the last Friday of the month. This early stage group utilizes the art of collage to explore life experiences related to managing short term memory issues. Members of this group also act as a support network for one another. If you are interested in participating in Expressions Through collage, contact Brenda Gregg at 816.364.4467 or brenda.gregg@alz.org.
Memories in the Making
Memories in the Making is an innovative art program that provides persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias with a means of creative expression through watercolor. Experienced volunteer artists work with community groups on a weekly basis. While this is not an early stage-specific group, individuals in the early stages do attend. No prior art experience is required. the following list includes Memories in the Making sites that are open to the public, however, space is limited. Please contact the numbers listed prior to attending.
Chillicothe, MO 64601
Every Wednesday
10 - 11:00 a.m.
Calvary Baptist church
206 Locust
Call Brenda Gregg at 816.364.4467
Kansas City, MO 64132
First Tuesday
10 - 11:00 a.m.
Research Medical Center
Midtown Satellite Office
6420 Prospect, West Building
Call Clemme Rambo at 913.541.1258
Prairie Village, KS 66208
2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month
10 - 11:15 a.m.
Main Chapter Office
3846 W. 75th Street
Call Karen Clond at 913.831.3888
Early Stage Support Groups
Early stage support groups meet in Prairie Village and Topeka. They provide information, discussion, and inspiration through an honest exchange of how individuals are coping and continuing on with good and productive lives. If you are considering joining the early stage support group, an orientation meeting prior to attendance is encouraged. The orientation meeting allows discussion about the group, gives opportunities to ask questions and ensures that the group is the right fit for the needs of the prospective participant. If you are interested in the Prairie Village group, contact Michelle Niedens at 913.831.3888 or michelle.niedens@alz.org. If you are interested in the Topeka group, contact Debbie Holroyd at 785.272.1844 or debbie.holroyd@alz.orgBack to top
Message Boards
The Alzheimer’s Association message boards and chat rooms provide an online community for persons with Alzheimer's, caregivers and care providers. Our message boards have thousands of registered members from around the United States and thousands more who refer to the stories and information that is available 24 hours a day.
Join the Alzheimer’s Association online community.
Early Stage Blog
This blog provides a venue for individuals in the early stage of memory loss to share stories of how they live meaningful lives while coping with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
View the latest Early Stage Blog
Education
Project LEARN
LEARN (Listen, Educate, Adjust, Resolve, Navigate) is an educational program for individuals, newly diagnosed in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease, and their families. The session will cover disease overview information as well as discuss issues around sharing diagnosis with others, support tips in managing short term memory issues, common questions in management and planning considerations. For more information, contact the Chapter office at 913.831.3888.
Early Stage Volunteers
Early stage volunteers can share personal stories of how they live meaningful, complete lives while coping with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders. Additionally, early stage volunteers may choose to join the Chapter's advocacy efforts at a local and/or state level. Volunteers talk with schools, community groups, legislatures and the media regarding their experience with Alzheimer's disease in order to increase awareness and encourage early diagnosis. Anyone interested in being an early stage volunteer and being part of the Alzheimer's disease advocacy efforts is encouraged to contact Kelly Jones at 913.831.3888 or mailto:kelly.jones@alz.org.
Minds in Motion at the Kemper Museum of Art in Kansas City, MO
On Wednesday February 23 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association - Heart of America Chapter, the Kemper Museum invites individuals with memory loss to participate in a FREE combined tour and creative workshop. Prior art experience is not required for this program. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is required. Contact Lauren Park at 816.457.6136 or lpark@kemperart.org.
Ethical Wills
What have you learned on your life's journey that you would like to pass along to your loved ones? Come to this class to learn how to craft a record of your values, faith, beliefs, hopes for the future and lessons learned. Each 90 minute session will be full of writing activities and sharing with others. Facilitated by Janet Kirkman, Member Association of Personal Historians.October 19 and October 21 (2011)
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Main Chapter Office
Legal Issues
This session explores the various legal concerns and needs that arise throughout the course of the diesease. Issues include durable power of attorney, guardianship, conservatorship, patient rights, division of assets and living wills.
December 2 (2011)
3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Main Chapter Office
March 13 (2012)
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Pittsburg Public Library
308 N. Walnut
Pittsburg, KS
May 24 (2012)
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Midtown Satellite Office
6420 Prospect, T301A
Kansas City, MO
Life Reflections
Have you ever thought about your life story? This 2-part series is designed to explain exactly how to get started. Each 90 minute session is designed to plumb your memory for the stories and the cast of colorful characters you've encountered along your life's journey. We will write in class and share with others. Facilitated by Janet Kirkman, Member Association of Personal Historians.October 5 and October 7 (2011)
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Main Chapter Office
Maintain Your Brain
Learn ways to keep your brain healthy as you age.August 18 (2011)
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Pittsburg Public Library
308 N. Walnut
Pittsburg, KS
September 20 (2011)
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Columbus Public Library
205 N. Kansas
Columbus, KS
October 18 (2011)
7:00 - 8:00 a.m.
Mercy Health Center
401 Woodland Hills Blvd
Ft. Scott, KS
November 10 (2011)
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Galena Public Library
217 W. 7th
Galena, KS
So You Have Been Newly Diagnosed With Alzheimer's
An opportunity to discuss what early stage Alzheimer's disease means and management strategies.January 11 (2012)
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Main Chapter Office
Mollie Tivol Alzheimer’s Family Resource Center
The Mollie Tivol Alzheimer's Family Resource Center is located in the Main Chapter Office in Prairie Village and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It offers books brochures, videos and other resources about Alzheimer's for loan or purchase. Everyone is welcome to these resources in addition to the information available at the regional offices of the Heart of America Chapter. View a list of material that can be purchased online.
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Dakim Brain Fitness
Dakim Brain Fitness was designed with seniors and Baby Boomers in mind. It is an electronic cognitive fitness devise and is available for use at the Main Chapter Office in Prairie Village. Dakim provides a fun, comprehensive 20 minute brain workout that cross-trains six essential cognitive domains with more than 100 different exercise formats across multiple levels of challenge. Altogether, it includes vivid graphics, music, humor, movie clips, stories, and trivia to keep the program interesting, engaging and, most of all, fun. Contact the Main Chapter Office at 913.831.3888 to reserve a 20 minute Dakim session.
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TrialMatch
TrialMatch is a free service that makes it easy for individuals with Alzheimer's, caregivers, families and physicians to locate clinical trials based on personal criteria (diagnosis, stage of disease) and location. This is an exciting time for Alzheimer's research. More than 100 research studies pertaining to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are underway and volunteers for these studies are needed. TrialMatch lets you search these trials quickly and easily. The following link takes you to the national website. To return to the Heart of America Chapter website, click the "In My Community" tab at the top of the national website page. Learn More about TrialMatch.
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MedicAlert® +Safe Return®
In a move to significantly improve the safety of individuals with Alzheimer’s, the Alzheimer’s Association and the MedicAlert Foundation have created an alliance to bring you MedicAlert + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return.
MedicAlert + Safe Return offers you the best of both worlds:
- Assistance when a person wanders or is lost
- Access to vital medical information in the time of need
Learn more about MedicAlert + Safe Return.
Quarterly Newsletter
Memory Matters, the Chapter newsletter, includes articles on caregiving strategies, research, public advocacy and the calendar of Chapter events. Visit our Newsletter Archive to download current or past newsletters in Adobe Acrobat format. Or, sign up to receive the newsletter in hard copy or email format.
Multilingual Information
Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia know no boundaries. Many individuals and families in ethnic and cultural minority groups are in need of solid information about Alzheimer's disease.
Access translated material
