Alzheimer's Caregivers

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Latest News

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• Videos and Tutorials

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Patient Handouts

Summary

Caring for someone who has Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be stressful and overwhelming. It's important to take care of yourself. Ask for and accept help.

Talk to the doctor. Find out what treatments might help control symptoms or address behavior problems. Find a support group. Others who have "been there" may be able to help and will understand.

If there are times of day that the person is less confused or more cooperative, take advantage of that in daily routines. Consider using adult day care or respite services. These offer a break with the peace of mind that the patient is being taken care of. Begin to plan for the future. This may include

• Getting financial and legal documents in order
• Looking into assisted living or nursing homes
• Finding out what your health insurance and Medicare will cover

NIH: National Institute on Aging

Start Here

• About Alzheimer's Disease: Caregiving (National Institute on Aging)
• Alzheimer's Caregiving (National Institute on Aging)
• Caregiver Depression (Alzheimer's Association)
• Caregivers and Serious Illness (Administration for Community Living) - PDF
• Caring for a Person with Alzheimer's Disease (National Institute on Aging) - PDF - 108 pages
• Communication and Alzheimer's (Alzheimer's Association)
• Finding More Help (Long Distance Care-Giving) (National Institute on Aging)
• Grief and Loss as Alzheimer's Progresses (Alzheimer's Association)
• Managing Personality and Behavior Changes (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Providing Everyday Care for People with Alzheimer's Disease (National Institute on Aging)
• Stress Relief for the Caregiver (Alzheimer's Association) - PDF

Latest News

• Alzheimer's Deaths Jump 55 Percent: CDC (05/25/2017, HealthDay)
• Wives, Daughters Shoulder Most of Alzheimer's Care Burden (05/09/2017, HealthDay)

Related Issues

• 10 Tips for Traveling with Your Loved One (Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation)
• Abuse (Alzheimer's Association)
• Adapting Activities for People with Alzheimer's Disease (National Institute on Aging)
• Alzheimer's Caregiving Tips: Bathing (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Changes in Intimacy and Sexuality (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Changes to Your Relationships (Alzheimer's Association)
• Continuing Care (Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation)
• Coping with Agitation and Aggression (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Coping with Late-Stage Alzheimer's Disease (National Institute on Aging)
• Daily Activities (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Finding the Right Place for the Person with Alzheimer's Disease (National Institute on Aging)
• Food, Eating and Alzheimer's (Alzheimer's Association) Also in Spanish
• Going to the Hospital (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Grooming and Dressing (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Healthy Eating (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Helping Family and Friends Understand Alzheimer's Disease (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Helping People with Alzheimer's Disease Stay Physically Active (National Institute on Aging)
• Home Safety for People with Alzheimer's Disease (National Institute on Aging)
• Home Safety for People with Alzheimer's Disease: Driving (National Institute on Aging)
• Home Safety for People with Alzheimer's Disease: General Safety Concerns (National Institute on Aging)
• Home Safety for People With Alzheimer's Disease: Home Safety by Behavior (National Institute on Aging)
• Home Safety for People with Alzheimer's Disease: Home Safety Room by Room (National Institute on Aging)
• Home Safety for People with Alzheimer's Disease: Impairment of the Senses (National Institute on Aging)
• Home Safety for People with Alzheimer's Disease: Natural Disaster Safety (National Institute on Aging)
• Hospitalization Happens: A Guide to Hospital Visits for Individuals with Memory Loss (National Institute on Aging)
• How to Assemble a Caregiving Team (Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation)
• Keeping the Person with Alzheimer's Disease Safe (National Institute on Aging)
• LGBT Caregiver Concerns (Alzheimer's Association) - PDF
• Long-Distance Caregiving -- A Family Affair (National Institute on Aging)
• Long-Distance Caregiving -- Getting Started (National Institute on Aging)
• Managing Medicines (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Residential Care (Alzheimer's Association)
• Respite Care (Administration on Aging)
• So Far Away: Twenty Questions for Long-Distance Caregivers (National Institute on Aging)
• Sundowning (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Traveling Overnight (National Institute on Aging)
• Understanding How Alzheimer's Disease Changes People: Challenges and Coping Strategies (National Institute on Aging)
• Who Would Take Care of the Person with Alzheimer's Disease If Something Happened to You? (National Institute on Aging)

Specifics

• Changes in Communication Skills (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Early-Stage Caregiving (Alzheimer's Association)
• End-of-Life Care (National Institute on Aging)
• Hallucinations, Delusions and Paranoia (Alzheimer's Association) - PDF
• Incontinence (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Late-Stage Caregiving (Alzheimer's Association)
• Middle-State Caregiving (Alzheimer's Association)
• Rummaging and Hiding Things (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Sleep Issues and Sundowning (Alzheimer's Association)
• Wandering (National Institute on Aging) - PDF

Genetics

• Genetics Home Reference: Alzheimer disease (National Library of Medicine)

Videos and Tutorials

• Alzheimer's Project (Alzheimer's Association)
• Caring for a Spouse (National Institute on Aging)
• Help from Outside Sources (National Institute on Aging)
• Making a Memory Book (National Institute on Aging)

Statistics and Research

• Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures (Alzheimer's Association)
• Caregiving for Alzheimer's Disease or Other Dementia (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: How to explore the needs of informal caregivers of individuals...
• Article: Awareness, apathy, and depression in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive...
• Article: Direct and indirect cost of managing alzheimer's disease and related...
• Alzheimer's Caregivers -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Alzheimer's: Glossary (Alzheimer's Association)
• Words to Know (Alzheimer's Disease) (National Institute on Aging)

Find an Expert

• AAAs (Area Agencies on Aging) & Title VI Aging Programs (National Association of Area Agencies on Aging)
• Alzheimer's Association
• Getting Help with Caregiving (National Institute on Aging)
• National Institute on Aging Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Alzheimer's Caregiving Tips: Bathing (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Changes in Communication Skills (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Changes in Intimacy and Sexuality (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Coping with Agitation and Aggression (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Daily Activities (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• End-of-Life Care (National Institute on Aging)
• Going to the Hospital (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Grooming and Dressing (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Healthy Eating (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Incontinence (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Managing Medicines (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Managing Personality and Behavior Changes (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Rummaging and Hiding Things (National Institute on Aging) - PDF
• Traveling Overnight (National Institute on Aging)
• Wandering (National Institute on Aging) - PDF