We offer many programs, services and educational programs for individuals with memory loss and their families as well as care partners and community members. Click on the link below that best fits your needs.

Support

24-Hour Information and Support

The Alzheimer's Association Helpline 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:

• Alzheimer’s disease or memory loss, medications and treatment options, brain health and care options
• How the Association can help you
• Caregiving tips and respite care options
• 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.

Back to top

Care Consultation

Families and care partners have many questions and concerns about Alzheimer's disease and often need assistance finding and utilizing community resources. The Heart of America Chapter offers individual and family care planning. Our professional staff is dedicated to helping people navigate through the difficult decisions and uncertainties people with Alzheimer's and their families face at every stage of the disease. We can provide care consultation services to you by telephone, email or in person. These include:

• Assessment of needs
• Assistance with planning and problem solving
• Supportive listening
  

Find the Heart of America Chapter office nearest you.

Back to top

Caregiver Support Groups

More than 30 Heart of America Chapter support groups provide a consistent and caring place for group members to discuss the challenges and joys of caregiving. Group members share their feelings and find emotional support as well as exchange information and educate themselves about Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Support group members bring new ideas to the table, learn about local and Association resources, share new ways of coping, boost each other's energy, and help build confidence. If you are a caregiver for a person with dementia, join a support group; you will benefit and help others. Find a support group.

Back to top

Breakfast Clubs

The Breakfast Clubs are hometown support experiences where people share food and gather in a safe environment to discuss their experiences. The Heart of America Breakfast Clubs are listed below.

Bourbon County, KS
Mercy Hospital - Xavier Room
401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Paula Shaw
620.719.0967
3rd Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m.

Crawford County, KS
1st United Methodist Church
415 N. Pine
Pittsburg, KS 66762
Paula Shaw
620.719.0967
3rd Thursday of the month at 9:00 a.m.

Kansas City, MO
Research Medical Center, Meeting Room 3
2316 E. Meyer Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64132
Clemme Rambo
816.361.6604
2nd Saturday of the month at 9:30 a.m.

Labette County, KS
Country Mart Deli
2020 Main Street
Parsons, KS 67357
John von Wedell
620.421.6550, ext 1794
1st Thursday of the month at 9:00 a.m.

Neosho County, KS
Memorial Building - Alliance Room
101 S. Lincoln
Chanute, KS 66720
John von Wedell
620.421.6550, ext 1794
1st Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m.

Back to top

Kansas Dementia Bridge Project

The Kansas Dementia Bridge Project provides dementia crisis support to individuals with a dementia who are experiencing neuropsychiatric symtoms of dementia, such as: depression, wandering, resistance to daily care, sleep disturbance, physical aggression, etc. Our staff assist with dementia assessment, disease education, care plan recommendations, resource/treatment navigation, support, and follow-up. The Bridge Project serves individuals residing in any setting (hospitals, homes, facilities, etc.). The Kansas Bridge Project is a partnership between the Kansas Area Agencies on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association - Heart of America Chapter. For more information on the Kansas Bridge Project, contact Michelle Niedens at michelle.niedens@alz.org or 800.272.3900.

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.

Back to top

Memories in the Making©

This innovative art program provides persons with Alzheimer's disease with a means of creative expression. Experienced volunteer artists work weekly with groups in assisted living facilities, nursing homes and adult day programs. Read more about Memories in the Making©.

Back to top

Memory Room

Approximately four times a year, the Heart of America Chapter partners with volunteer area artists, high school artists, and nursing home facilities to create a pleasing wall mural for late stage dementia patients who spend the majority of time in their rooms. The mural is typically based on some aspect of the person's life: a familiar scene, a countryside, or a special place where fond memories may reside. See Memory Room murals.

Back to top

Education/Resources

Caregiver Education Programs

The Heart of America Chapter offers regularly scheduled classes designed to provide needed information to families of those with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias including understanding disease process, coping strategies, legal and financial issues, and information to facilitate caregiving. Below is a list of educational offerings for caregivers. If you have any questions about caregiver education programs, contact Kelly Jones at 913.831.3888 or kelly.jones@alz.org.

For details regarding meeting times and locations about the following programs, please consult the 2012-2013 Education Calendar.

ABC's Alzheimer's Basic Care
An overview of the disease process - how family caregivers can work with the individual experiencing the disease. Addtitional topics covered include communication, behaviors and feelings.

Part 1: Disease Overview and Community Resources
Part 2: Planning and Legal Issues

A Family Affair
A discussion with parents and grandparents about helping children who are part of the lives of individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's Research Forum
This program addresses the major areas of focus in Azheimer's research including an overarching summary of research directions as well as a discussion of specific studies going on in the Kansas City area. 

Caregiver Conferences
Conferences for family and professional caregivers that focus on caring, coping and making life better for the person with dementia.

12th Annual Defining Hope Conference
Defining Hope is a conference that occurs annually in November, which is Alzheimer's Diseasee Month. While the confeence is designed for professionals, caregivers are also encouraged to attend.

Exercising for the Brain
This program explores ways to keep your brain healthy as you age.

Family Series
A 6-session course focusing on some of the most common topics around caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. Individuals are welcome to come for whichever topics are of concern.

Part I: "What can I expect?" - An overview of Alzheimer's disease including diagnosis, stages and family experiences.

Part II: "I don't need any help" - A discussion of managing activities of daily living including resistance, provision of care and other issues associated with bathing, toileting, dressing, taking medication and feeding.

Part 3: "He just sits around all day" - Explores the role of activities and structure for the person with Alzheimer's disease. Suggestions on activities and option to maximize strengths.

Part 4: "Is she on too many medications?" - The concerns and appropriate benefits of commonly prescribed medications in the care of the person with Alzheimer's disease.

Part 5: "I can't do this anymore" - the dilemma around the placement decision. Covers options, resources and the decision making process.

Part 6: "I should, I ought, I have to" - A video and discussion of the guilt that typically goes along with the role of the caregiver.

Growing Through Grief
A  three-part series discussing the unique experiences of grief in caring for individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

Legal Issues
This session explores the various legal concerns and needs that arise throughout the course of the disease. Issues include durable power of attorney, guardianship, conservatorship, patient rights, division of assets and living will.

Let's Talk About Memory Loss
English and Spanish options available.

Plus Dementia
A session that discusses special issues and considerations when the person with a dementia has a prior mental health issue as well as when the caregiver has mental health issues.

Spring into Activities
A calendar year of horticultural therapy.

So You Have Been Newly Diagnosed with Alzheimer's: The First Steps
A discussion about what early stage Alzheimer's disease means and management strategies.

The Neuropsychiatric Challenges of Dementia
A discussion of care approaches for addressing challenging behaviors sometimes associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Younger Onset Alzheimer's
A discussion of coping with the unique issues associated with having a family member diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease under the age of 65.

Back to top

Library

The Library is located in the main office and open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to provide books, brochures, videos and other resources on Alzheimer's for loan or purchase. All offices have access to these resources and also offer a variety of informative material at their locations. View a list of material that can be purchased.

Back to top  

Safety Programs

MedicAlert+Safe Return
MedicAlert+Safe Return is a national patient registry for the memory impaired. This program was developed by the Alzheimer's Association to respond to the problem of wandering. The Safe Return program coordinates information on program participants, caregivers, and emergency personnel in order to provide a system to enable others to locate, identify and return missing persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders who wander and become lost. Enroll in Safe Return.

Comfort Zone: A New Tracking Device for SomePeace of Mind
Alzheimer's Association Comfort Zone allows family members to monitor a person's location, while the individual with Alzheimer's can maintain their independence and enjoy the emotional security of familiar routines and surroudings. Learn more.

Project Lifesaver
Project Lifesaver helps provide rapid response to save lives and reduce potential for serious injury for adults and children who wander due to Alzheimer's, Autism, Down syndrome, dementia and other related cognitive conditions. Project Lifesaver provides equipment, training, certification and support to law enforcement, public safety organizations, and community groups. People who are part of the Project Lifesaver program wear a personalized wristband that emits a tracking signal. When care partners notify the police that the person is missing, a search and rescue team responds to the wanderer's area and starts searching with the mobile locator tracking system. It has allowed search times to be significantly reduced. Transmitter bracelets are $250.00 each and require a $10.00 a month charge for the bands and batteries that are changed monthly by trained Project Lifesaver volunteer. A limited number of scholarships are available for those in need.

For further information about Project Lifesaver, contact participating law enforcement agencies:

Douglas County, KS Sheriff Department: Sgt. Seve Lewis 785.841.0007 or 785.832.5204
Lee's Summit, MO Police Department: Officer Beth Glover 816.969.1700
Raytown, MO Police Department:Nicole Grivno 816.737.6124
Saline County, KS Sheriff Department: Tina Miller 785.826.6500
Westwood, KS Police Department: Officer Donald Brooks 913.362.3737

Back to top

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 esasily. 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. Learn More About TrialMatch

Back to top

Chapter 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.

Back to top

Multilingual Information

Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders that cause dementia know no boundaries. Many individuals and families in ethnic and cultural minority groups are in need of solid information about Alzheimer’s disease and health resources.

Spanish educational materials

Back to top