Finding Good Care for Those With Alzheimer's Disease
There may be a point in time where you need outside assistance for the person in your care. Resources for anything from in-home help to a residential care facility to emotional support groups are available.
As Alzheimer's disease progresses, you may need to consider in-home assistance or residential care facilities. There are several easy-to-use tools to help you figure out your needs and find care assistance.
Deciding Where to Live
Staying at home: Most people prefer to stay at home for as long as possible. Staying at home often requires two elements: 1) finding care providers who will come to the home; and 2) adapting the home to reduce obstacles that hinder care giving and make the home unsafe for a person with Alzheimer's disease. In many cases, small changes to the home can make it possible to live at home longer.
- Eldercare.gov has answers on how to modify your home for caregiving.
- The Alzheimer's Association's CareFinder is an interactive tool that recommends care options and provides a list of questions to ask when screening a care provider.
- The Eldercare Locator allows you to find help in your community by searching by zip code, or city and state.
Home and community-based services
- The Alzheimer's Association has a list of services that may be included in home- and community-based services waivers.
Respite Care
- The Alzheimer's Association explains available types of care centers and resources to find care facilities.
Types of Licensed Residences in Your Area
If staying at home is no longer an option, there are different kinds of facilities that take care of people with Alzheimer's.
- Medicare's Nursing Home Compare can help you find and compare nursing homes.
- The Eldercare Locator provides answers to common questions and information about assisted living facility.
- The Alzheimer's Association's Senior Housing Finder has various filters to search for a care facility, including city and state, county, zip code or options.
- The Alzheimer's Foundation of America provides names and links to dementia care settings that meet its national standards.
Adapted from Alzheimers.gov, a website developed by the Department of Health and Human Services and the NIH/National Institute of Aging Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center.