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The Alzheimer’s Association is here to help. |
Helpline
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:
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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
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Caregiving tips and respite care options
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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.
Care consultation
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, e-mail or in person. These include:
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Assessment of needs
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Assistance with planning and problem solving
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Supportive listening
Contact us for more information:
Phone: 1.800.272.3900
Support groups
Support groups provide a safe place where people go to learn, listen, share and gain emotional support from others who are also on a unique journey of providing care to a person with dementia. Support groups are held at various times and in many different communities and languages. Each group is different, and depending on each person's needs will offer different things. Check our support group list see if there is a group close to you that fits your needs.
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 Services
If you, a friend or family member was recently diagnosed, the early stage programs, currently offered in three areas, may be for you.
What we offer and where:
Northridge, Greater San Fernando Valley
16933 Parthenia Street, Suite 200
Natalie Buriel, MSW, (818) 830-4837
Los Angeles
5900 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1100
Nicole Feingold, MA (323) 930-6256
Rancho Mirage,Coachella Valley-Rancho Mirage
(760) 328-6767
Family Consultations
Whether you have received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia we are here to help by providing information, support, guidance and resources. The goals of an early stage consultation include:- Helping individuals with a dementia and their care partner(s) to create a personalized care plan, which may include participation in the Memory Club
- Answering questions about early stage & early onset dementia
- Providing referrals to services and other supportive programs in the community
- Providing relevant education materials and event information
- Providing information about clinical trials, research and medications
- Connecting newly diagnosed individuals and their care-partners to graduates of the Memory Club who can provide one-on-one peer support
The Memory Club
The Memory Club is a cutting edge program specifically designed for individuals with early stage Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia and their care partner. The Memory Club is a comprehensive support, education and peer group that meets weekly. The mission of the Memory Club is to support and empower individuals and care partners as they deal with early stage Alzheimer’s disease and related memory loss disorders, and to shed light on important issues and challenges as they arise. Together we learn about dementia and its emotional impact on individuals, care partners and families. Ultimately, our aim is to create an atmosphere that nurtures new friendships and peer support during and beyond the group experience. The following themes are a sample of the issues addressed in the Memory Club:- Understanding the disease process
- Family dynamics
- Safety
- Practical planning for the future
- Emotional & psychological responses to the diagnosis
- Communication
- Honoring independence vs. taking over
- Coping strategies
- Changing responsibilities, roles & task sharing
The Graduation Club
Graduates from the Memory Club who meet criteria for early stage participation may choose to continue in the “Grad Club” The Grad Club maintains the same objectives as the Memory Club while utilizing the input of current members to guide programming and topic discussions. Additionally, the Grad Club incorporates reminiscing as well as cognitive stimulation activities in the group for persons with dementia.Early Memory Loss Forum
A one-day, interactive symposium in Southern California created by and for people with early stage Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The purpose of this conference is to provide a centralized symposium of support, education and networking. Additionally, the conference provides a forum for people to speak out on their own behalf on issues of direct concern.The Heart of Looking at Art
This program follows the MOMA Alzheimer's Project guidelines developed by the Museum of Modern Art for making art accessible to people with dementia. This program is offered to individuals with early to mid stage Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and their care partners. The program takes place in the galleries at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).Program Replication
Community organizations have recognized the value and need for additional early stage support group models such as the Memory Club. The Association is working with organizations to replicate our programming. The Memory Club program is being replicated at Beach Cities Health District in Redondo Beach as well as Huntington Hospital’s Senior Care Network in Pasadena.Alzheimer's Association's Volunteer Task Force
The Volunteer Task Force is a pool of passionate, self-identified, persons with the diagnosis and their care partners who are willing to be called upon by the Alzheimer's Association, California Southland Chapter, for assistance with "Alzheimer's Awareness." Awareness activities include advocacy efforts, media and educational outreach, fundraising, input, advice and opinions on program development.Brochures
We have two brochures on the special planning needs of early stage individuals:
Publications
The Alzheimer’s Association offers dozens of fact sheets and brochures.
Click here for a listing.
We also maintain a variety of educational materials (brochures, videos, audiotapes and books) on topics related to Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. To learn more about our library, call us at 1.800.272.3900.
Educational programs
We offer many educational programs each year that address the specific interests of the general public, individuals with the disease and their families.
Professional training
We offer classroom and Web-based training for healthcare supervisors and direct care workers in assisted living and nursing homes. Many programs allow you to earn CEUs.
Professional training listings.
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.
Lasman Family Library
The Alzheimer's Association maintains a multimedia library of books, periodicals, videotapes, CDs, DVDs and other materials pertinent to Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The collection covers activities, adult day services, caregiving issues, diagnosis, first-person accounts, legal and financial issues, long-term care options, medical research, memory, stages of Alzheimer's, and more. There is a selection of children's books, as well as resources in Spanish and other foreign languages. The library is available to family members, caregivers, professionals and students.The Lasman Family Library is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Appointments are required; please call (323) 938-3379 and ask for Judy.
- First time borrowers must register.
- A sign-out card must be completed for each item.
- The loan period for library materials is 30 days.
- Two videos or disks may be borrowed at one time, with a deposit by check of $100.00 for each, to be returned when the item is brought back.
- Four books may be borrowed at one time
Satellite libraries with basic collections are housed at these Southland offices:
Greater San Fernando Valley (Northridge); please (818) 677-4404
Coachella Valley (Rancho Mirage): (760) 328-6767
WE MAKE NO PROVISION FOR LOANS BY MAIL: ALL MATERIALS MUST BE PICKED UP IN PERSON.
Medic Alert® + 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:
Access to vital medical information in the time of need
Learn more about Safe Return.
Adult Day Services
What are adult day services?Adult day services are centers where people with memory problems can spend part of their day in a caring environment. What can they do for you?
• Provide time for you to:
• Go to your job
• Make phone calls and run errands
• Take a nap and rest
• Lower your stress
• Provide emotional support What can they offer the person with memory loss?
• Time to be outside of the home
• Activities with other people
• A chance to make new friends
• A nutritious meal
Learn more about adult day services:
• Types of adult day services
• Steps to selecting adult day services
• Los Angeles County directory of adult day services
• Riverside and San Bernardino Counties directory of adult day services
How to Hire and Train Help in the Home Workbook
Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia can be physically and emotionally demanding. As the disease progresses, some families may find it difficult to bring a non-family member into the home or have someone else help care for a parent or spouse. It is important for you and those around you to see that hiring a person to help provide care is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of strength. The Alzheimer's Association has created a workbook to help you with the hiring process. Click here to view the workbook.Local resources and referrals
We maintain updated information on home care, adult day care, care coordination, assisted living, skilled nursing facilities, eldercare lawyers and transportation available in the community. Our staff and trained professionals can help assess whether a specific care provider meets the needs of an individual with Alzheimer’s.
Click here to search local resources
or
Download the Resource Directory
For more information about local resources, please contact us: (800) 272-3900.
