Programs & Services
Family Assistance Programs
- Helpline:
Trained volunteers lend a listening ear to caregiving families, suggest resources and provide basic information. Available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. You may also click on Helpline Email to ask a question via email.
- Care Consultation:
Free, short-term professional consultation assists families with accessing resources, managing difficult behaviors, learning coping skills and planning for future care needs. Consultation is available during normal business hours.
- Family Care Planning:
In-depth care consultation and planning assistance in the family home or chapter office. Free for members. Available weekdays, weeknights, and weekends
- Early Diagnosed Programs:
Project ESTEEM offers small support groups and coping strategies for persons with mild dementia and their families. Social, activity and volunteer opportunities are available for Esteem participants.
- Support Groups:
Trained facilitators meet with small groups of caregivers to share experiences and offer mutual support. Groups meet throughout the area. Specialized groups meet in the chapter office for persons with mild memory impairment, early and late stage caregivers, adult children, spouses of younger AD persons and survivor family members.
- Respite Care Assistance:
Eligible families receive information, consultation and financial reimbursement for adult day care, in-home and short-term residential care services. Referral to area nursing homes offering free two-night respite stays is available.
- Safe Return:
A nationwide identification program to enable others to identify, locate and return people with dementing illnesses who are lost.
Family & Community Education
Classes for Families
- Understanding Memory Loss is the core education program
of the Association of Our Town. This program provides a thorough overview
of memory loss, dementia and the disease while including information about
research, treatments, and how to get a diagnosis.
This program forms the foundation for all other education programs, and everyone is encouraged to attend before going to additional programs. Everyone is encouraged to come!
- Living with Change: Caring for a Loved One with Memory
Loss is the premier education program for people who care for a loved one
with memory loss. Once a person attends Understanding Memory Loss, this
program expands your information about how to care for a person with dementia
or the in your home.
In this program, learn about your loved one’s strengths and how to support their needs while maintaining as much independence as possible. Topics covered include improving your communication, managing challenging daily situations & taking time for yourself.
This program is encouraged for family caregivers at any stage of the disease.
- Looking Ahead: Planning for Future Legal & Financial Needs
is the education program for people who want to plan ahead for the future.
Once you attend Understanding Memory Loss, this program informs you about
legal planning tools like advance directives and durable powers of attorney
that can help assure your loved one’s wishes are met.
Topics covered include the importance of advanced legal planning, common tools for health decisions or estate planning & caregiver resources.
This program is encouraged for family caregivers at any stage of the disease, and people with memory loss are welcome to attend.
- Facing New Challenges: Living with Your Memory Loss is
our education program for people with memory loss. People with memory loss
are encouraged to first attend Understanding Memory Loss with a family member.
After that program, people with memory loss can attend Facing New Challenges
to learn about your strengths & how you can adapt to your new life.
Topics covered include building your strengths, caring for yourself, making your wishes known to your family & facing the new challenges with humor, positive thinking and support.
Families are encouraged to attend together if the person with memory loss desires.
- Understanding Your Future Care Options is the program
designed for people caring for a loved one who are considering care services.
After attending Understanding Memory Loss and Living with Change, this program
helps you consider care options for your loved one from in-home care to
nursing facilities.
In this program, learn about the care options available to you, how to pay for care and how to make the best choice for your family. Topics covered include in-home services, hiring a private in-home companion, adult day care, and institutional care like special care units and skilled care.
Families can attend this program at any stage of the disease.
- Caring for a Person with Advanced Dementia is the program
designed for families providing care to someone with late-stage the or dementia.
After caring for a loved one for a few years, families experience challenges
that require more advanced knowledge of the later part of the illness.
In this program, learn about caring for your loved ones’ physical, mental and spiritual needs as they approach the end of their journey with the illness. Topics covered include managing physical care, facing ethical decisions in end-of-life, understanding the dying process and knowing where to turn for help.
Families can attend this program after attending programs for the earlier stages of the disease & after years of experience with the illness.
- Health Fairs, Conferences, Community Workshops:
In collaboration with health care, research and service organizations, the chapter offers programs, informational displays, resource materials and special presentations.
- Library Services:
Print, audio, and visual resource materials are available for purchase or loan. Order forms and video listings are available by phone and in the library which is open during business hours. Access to Washington University's "Alzheimer Page" through the Internet is available on the library computer.
- Newsletter:
A monthly publication featuring caregiving tips, chapter news, events, program calendars and updates on research and advocacy.
- Professional Education Opportunities:
Sessions designed for professionals working with older adults and their families. Target audiences include clergy, home health aides, fire/emergency personnel, nursing home staff, hospital staff, police and senior housing managers.
- Speakers Bureau:
Speakers address a range of topics such as handling difficult behaviors, AD symptoms and stages, caring for the caregiver and kids coping with AD. Day or evening engagements to groups of 15 or more. Optional donations for presentations encouraged.