Our Mission
To eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through promotion of brain health.
Our free programs are made possible by the generous support of our donors.
Page Outline
24-Hour Helpline
We are here to help you:
- Phone #: 1-800-272-3900
- Email us by using our contact form or helpline@alznyc.org
The Helpline is available around the clock, 365 days a year. Calls
are answered by staff and specially trained volunteers who offer
information, referrals and support to family members, professional
caregivers, and people with dementia. Translation services are available
in 180 languages. The Helpline responds to over 500 calls per month.
Care Consultation Services
Care Consultation is an in-depth, personalized service for individuals and families who
are facing many decisions and challenges associated with Alzheimer’s disease and related
disorders. The goal is for each family to develop a better understanding of the disease,
make a plan to secure needed care, and develop strategies for the best possible symptom
management and communication. Consultations are provided in person, by phone, and
via e-mail.
Caregiver Support Group Program
The Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter offers support groups in many community settings at no charge. Before joining a group we recommend that you:
- Attend an Understanding Dementia Meeting at the Chapter Office. Contact our 24-hour Helpline at 800-272-3900 to register for the meeting.
- Call the support group leader and schedule a personal interview. An interview gives you the opportunity to ask questions and determine if the group is right for you.
- Select only one group and attend 3 meetings before you decide if it is the right group for you.
Over 130 support groups for caregivers provide a consistent and caring place for group
members to discuss the challenges of caregiving, share their feelings, and find emotional
support. Group members also exchange information and educate themselves about
dementia.
For more information, please visit the Caregiver Support Group Program website.
Conferences
- The Annual Early-Stage Memory Disorders Forum for Caregivers and Professionals
Provides attendees with information and education about the special needs of people with MCI and early-stage dementias.
- The Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter
Interfaith Conference for Clergy
Held annually to help communities of faith and their leaders increase awareness andmeet the needs of the growing number of congregants affected by AD and other dementias.
- The Chapter Annual Meeting
Held annually to update the community on progress in Alzheimer’s research, the
meeting hosts a panel of leading scientists and clinicians, who present their work
to members of the scientific community, persons with dementia, family members,
caregivers and dementia care professionals.
Cultural Arts Programs (Connect2Culture)
The Chapter is proud to collaborate with premier art institutions in New York City
including The Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The
American Museum of Folk Art, The Studio Museum of Harlem, and The Rubin
Museum to create outstanding programs for people with dementia and their family
and professional caregivers. Our Greet Art program orients caregivers to the museum
experience so they will feel comfortable bringing people with dementia for a visit.
We look forward to expanding this program to include a full range of cultural
venues including botanical gardens, zoos, and additional museums.
For more information, please visit the Connect2Culture website.
Early Stage Services
Services offered for people with MCI and early-stage dementia include counseling
for individuals with a diagnosis and their caregivers, a MemoryWorks program that
offers stimulating cognitive exercise, groups that provide support and opportunities for
socialization, and the annual Early-Stage Memory Disorders Forum.
For more information, please visit the Early Stage Services website.
Education & Training
These informative meetings and educational seminars address important topics relating
to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias. Subjects include diagnosis, home care
concerns, patient management, research updates, caregiver health and well-being, nursing
home placement, late-stage care issues and more.
For a complete listing of our upcoming meetings please visit our education meeting website.
Training
Our experienced training staff offers programs to sensitize professionals and para-professionals
to the special needs of people with dementia and their families. We offer individualized
training to staff of adult day care programs, nursing homes, assisted living residences, social
service agencies, pastoral ministries, and others.
- 50 Hour Dementia Care Training For Professionals - An innovative program specially designed to equip home and personal care workers
with the knowledge and skills needed to provide their clients with the highest quality
of dementia care. Training is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. To enroll, please call Nancy Hendley, Dementia Care Trainer
at 646-744-2930.
- Support Group Leaders Training - An intensive four-day workshop designed for professionals and former caregivers who
wish to lead family and early-stage support groups. This program employs a didactic
and experiential approach to training new support group leaders.
- Family Caregiver Workshops - For more information, please contact our helpline at 800-272-3900.
Emergency & Special Assistance Funds / The Minna and Jack M. Pollock Respite Fund
These funds offer financial aid designed to assist caregiving families to access respite
services for brief periods of time, or to provide relief when there is an emergency.
Home Delivered Meals
Through a partnership with God’s Love We Deliver, nutritious meals are delivered to the
homes of people with dementia who, because of their illness, cannot shop or cook for
themselves. Caregivers of people with dementia are also eligible for service.
In-Home Hospice Program
This program is a cooperative undertaking which combines the efforts of the Chapter with New York City hospice providers. It provides in-home or institutional hospice care for persons with end-stage Alzheimer's and their families.
MedicAlert® + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return®
The Alzheimer’s Association and MedicAlert have formed an alliance to improve the safety
of individuals with Alzheimer’s or related dementias. MedicAlert + Safe Return is a
24-hour nationwide emergency response service that provides assistance in finding people
who wander, locally or far from home, or have a medical emergency. Financial assistance
for enrollment is available for residents of the five boroughs of New York City.
For more information, please visit the MedicAlert + Safe Return website.
Nursing Home and Residential Care Initiative
This initiative works to minimize the trauma of placement for patients, ease the transition for families, and train/support the staff. The program aims to improve treatment of residents through changing the culture of care in nursing homes and other residential facilities.
Outreach
Diversity & Outreach
Diversity and outreach efforts are designed to extend Chapter
programs and services, including education, information,
training, referrals, support, advocacy and volunteerism to
ethnically diverse populations. The Chapter has created
linguistically appropriate informational materials and offers
educational sessions to community members and professionals
in Spanish and Chinese. The African-American, Chinese and Latino Outreach programs seek to meet the specific needs of these communities by
increasing awareness of, and participation in, our programs and services.
Physician Outreach
The Physician Outreach program informs physicians and their office staff about the
services of the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter to facilitate referrals
of persons with dementia and their caregivers to the Association. Prescription for Care,
a useful “Rx” pad, provides information about our core support and education
services—all free and non-medical—to supplement a physician care plan.
For more information, please visit the Physician Outreach website.
Public Policy & Advocacy
Through analysis of issues and grassroots advocacy efforts, the Chapter address federal, state, and local government legislative, regulatory, and policy initiatives.
For more information, please visit the Public Policy & Advocacy website.
Speakers Bureau
Trained volunteers are available to provide presentations on Alzheimer’s disease and the Alzheimer’s Association to audiences including community organizations, corporations, senior centers, clubs, congregations, schools and others.
For more information, please visit the Speakers Bureau website.
Volunteer Services
Over 500 individuals volunteer their time to support the Chapter’s work including:
Support Group Leadership, Helpline, Speakers Bureau (English, Spanish, Chinese),
Advocacy and Translation Services.
For more information, please visit the Volunteer Services website.
Alzheimer's Association Trialmatch™
TrialMatch is a free service that makes it easy for people with Alzheimer’s, caregivers,
families and physicians to locate clinical trials based on personal criteria (diagnosis,
stage of disease) and location. Visit www.alz.org/trialmatch for more information.
Autopsy / Brain Donation
The Chapter provides information to families who are considering autopsy for the confirmation of the Alzheimer's diagnosis. Information on brain donation programs is also available.
