If you have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, this section is for you. The first thing you should know is that you are not alone. There is a lot of help and support available.
Here at the Western New York Chapter we offer various kinds of programs to allow you to still be independent, learn more about memory loss, spend time with people who are going through the same things as you, and exercise your brain to keep it stimulated.
If you would like to learn more about general information on topics such as telling others about your diagnosis, planning for the future and taking care of yourself, visit our If You Have Alzheimer's webpage.
Local Programs and Services
Early Stage Programming
The chapter offers early stage programming that includes a vast variety of stimulating activities ranging from museum visits to art classes to social gatherings. For an individual with dementia to participate in any of our early stage programs, you must have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia from your doctor and you must go through an assessment with one of our staff members so that we can better evaluate what programs would fit your needs best.
February Early Stage Calendar
Middle Stage Programming
The chapter's middle stage programming largely revolves around social respite groups where participants can engage in meaningful activities and socialize while their caregiver can have a few hours to do things independently. There are also a couple of supports offered to caregivers where a respite group is also help at the same time for the individual with dementia.
February Middle Stage Calendar
Respite Program
Respite can mean many things to many people. For someone with dementia, respite is a time to socialize, meet new people and to particiapte in mentally stimulating activities. We offer two types of respite - in-home and group. Our respite programs are appropriate for individuals in the early to middle stages of Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. To learn more about our respite program, visit our Respite Program webpage.
Education Classes
If you are in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, attend our new education series, "Living with Alzheimer's" to learn about the basics of dementia and learn about helpful information that will help you and your family or caregivers. Topics that will be discussed include diagnosis, treatments, planning for the future and resources in the community. View our education and training calendar to see when the next series of Living with Alzheimer's will take place.
Care Consultation
Meet one-on-one with a care consultant, and they can assess you and yours families needs and give you direction on planning for the future. To find out more about our care consultations, visit the Care Consultation webpage.
TrailMatch - Join a Clinical Study
Would you like to be a part of finding better treatments and possibly a cure for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias? Consider joining a clinical trial. The Alzheimer's Association 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. To learn more about clinical trials and TrailMatch, visit our Clinical Studies webpage.
Online Message Boards
The Alzheimer’s Association message boards and chat rooms are your online communication forum. Share your thoughts and experiences, query your colleagues and make new friends. Please join our community.
If you have any questions regarding early stage programming or Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, please call the Western New York Chapter at 1.800.272.3900 or email program.wny@alz.org.
