Use of Funds

                                                Programs and
                                         Services

Toll-Free Helpline -
24 Hours a Day/7 Days a Week: 1-800-272-3900

Information and referral services, care consultation and support are available through the Chapter's toll-free Helpline. Trained volunteer specialists and staff answer questions on a wide range of topics, send information packages tailored to each caller's needs, and listen with understanding and empathy. Interpreter services available for 140+ languages. For more information.

Care Consultation

Individalized care management, education and caregiving support are provided to caregiving families by our licensed social work staff. The aim is to connect families with appropriate services and ensure that support is available throughout the course of the disease. Care consultation is available by telephone and email statewide and at the caregiver's home (generally within a one hour drive from Portland unless special arrangements have been made) or at the Chapter office. There is no charge for this service. For more information.

Support Groups

A trained and experienced leader facilitates discussion amoung group members who share experiences and offer practical suggestions and encouragement to one another. Over 45 support groups statewide are open to family members and other caregivers free of charge. The Chapter sponsors training and annual educational forums for support group leaders. For more information.

Education and Training

Family caregiver conferences, educational seminars, staff in-service training and professional workshops are held statewide throughout the year. Educational programs on a variety of topics are available to a wide range of audiences including family caregivers, health and long-term care professionals, the general public, clergy, law enforcement personnel, housing, and emergency services staff. Some or our more popular caregiver programs include: Understanding Dementia, the Conversation Series about Memory Loss and Dementia, the Best Friends™ Approach to Alzheimer's Care, Maintain Your Brain™: How to live a healthy lifestyle and Activity Focused Care: An Ongoing Process.

Resources

A free information packet, containing a variety of practical materials about Alzheimer's disease and related caregiving topics, is available upon request. In addition, caregivers are able to access a core set of the best books and videos about Alzheimer's disease at any one of 160 public libraries and health centers throughout the state.

Safe Return®

Safe Return® is a national identification program that assists in the safe and timely return of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders who wander and become lost. The program provides an identity bracelet, clothing labels and wallet cards for the memory-impaired individual; registration in a national database and a 24-hour 800 number to contact when an individual is lost or found. In addition, on-going educational opportunities are available for emergency personnel and the lay community on wandering awareness. For more information.

Advocacy and Public Policy

Chapter staff and a growing network of volunteer advocates are active in the legislative and regulatory arenas at both the state and national levels. The Chapter initiates legislation and regularly offers testimony on bills that affect people with Alzheimer's disease. In addition, the Chapter regularly participates on state task forces and work groups. For more information.

Newsletter

Our newsletter, published three times annually and available free of charge, contains articles on research, local and national activities, and caregiver concerns. An excellent source of information, the newsletter includes a calendar of events and upcoming educational programs. To sign up for our newsletter.

Speaker's Bureau

Chapter staff, medical professionals, and specially trained volunteers speak about Alzheimer's disease to civic, business and community groups.

Statewide Resource Directory

A comprehensive listing, published by the Maine Alzheimer's Association, provides county-by-county dementia-specific resources for the State of Maine. Listings include: Alzheimer's Evaluation Clinics; Geriatricians; Neurologists; Elder Law Attorneys; Support Groups; Adult Day Services; Home Health Agencies; and Residential Care and Nursing Care Facilities. (Note: These lists do not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation). The Directory is updated regularly and may be downloaded free. For more information.

Message Boards

The National Association maintains electronic message boards to share information, feelings, and tips with others in your situation. There are separate boards with topics of interest to people with Alzheimer's, family caregivers and friends, physicians and health care professionals, and researchers. For more information.

Research

Committed to supporting research toward prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, the Chapter contributes a specific dollar amount of its annual budget to research efforts conducted under the auspices of the National Alzheimer's Association.