Associations, Federations, Institutes, Societies, Foundations

The various Alzheimer’s organizations around the world are all very similar, and they’re all different. Be sure to become familiar with your countries organization, but visit the sites of those in other countries.

International

Alzheimer’s Disease International – Alzheimer’s Disease International is the umbrella organization of Alzheimer associations around the world, which offer support and information to people with dementia and their carers.

United States

alzheimers.gov – the government’s free information resource about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

National Institute On Aging – NIA, one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. NIA is the primary Federal agency supporting and conducting Alzheimer’s disease research.

The NIA is a great place for online information about Alzheimer’s disease. The Institute also publishes a number of informative pamphlets that are available as PDF downloads or in Print Copies. Below is a list of relevant NIA web pages:

• 2012-2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Progress Report
• Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease: What Do We Know?
• Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet
• Alzheimer’s Disease Medications Fact Sheet
• Participating in Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trials and Studies Fact Sheet

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America – The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America was founded by a consortium of organizations to fill the gap that existed on a national level to assure quality of care and excellence in service to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses, and to their caregivers and families. The mission of the foundation is “to provide optimal care and services to individuals confronting dementia, and to their caregivers and families – through member organizations dedicated to improving quality of life.”

Alzheimer’s Association – Comprehensive information for family caregivers is available at www.alz.org. The materials cover a robust selection of information on caregiving and caring for oneself.

American Health Assistance Foundation – The American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that funds research into cures for Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration and glaucoma, and provides the public with information about risk factors, preventative lifestyles, available treatments and coping strategies. The website contains helpful information for Alzheimer’s Caregivers.

Canada

Alzheimer Society of Canada – The Alzheimer Society is the leading not-for-profit health organization working nationwide to improve the quality of life for Canadians affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and advance the search for the cause and cure. Active in communities right across Canada, the Society has programs and services near you.

United Kingdom

Alzheimer’s Society – Alzheimer’s Society is a membership organization, which works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Australia

Alzheimer’s Australia – …the peak body providing support and advocacy for the 250,000 Australians living with dementia, their families and carers. Our vision is for a society committed to the prevention of dementia, while valuing and supporting people living with dementia. There is an Alzheimer’s Australia organization in every State and Territory. These organizations provide: Information, Support, Advocacy, Education services

Europe

Alzheimer Europe – We are a non-governmental organisation aimed at raising awareness of all forms of dementia by creating a common European platform through co-ordination and co-operation between Alzheimer organisations throughout Europe. Alzheimer Europe is also a source of information on all aspects of dementia.

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Resources

Some or these resources are for general support, others are specific to dementia.

Department of Veterans Affairs – Many aging Americans served in the Armed Forces. VA offers a number of services that can provide you with the support that’s right for you. Whether you and the Veteran you care for could use some help at home or you just need someone to listen, we’re here to support you. Follow the link to learn more about the variety of services available to Family Caregivers.

National Caregivers Library – The National Caregivers Library is one of the most extensive libraries for caregivers that exists today. Find hundreds of articles, forms, checklists and links to topic-specific external resources, organized into logical categories.

Schools and Universities

Here are some schools that provide coursework for people who want to make a career of caring, or who want to better understand dementia and how to care for a loved one. If your school offers a program in elderly care or dementia care, please contact us so we can include you here.

University of Tasmania; Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre – The Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre is at the forefront of translational research and support for issues confronting people with dementia and their carers. More than 25 projects are being carried out in Tasmania and nationally, across dementia research fields including neuroscience, medicine, nursing, psychology and sociology, health, economics and policy.”

Open Colleges: Aged Care – “Open Colleges is Australia’s leader in open learning. We offer over 150 flexible online courses that allow you to fit study around your lifestyle. Our accredited courses are designed in consultation with industry and include TAFE and other nationally recognized qualifications. We support you at every step of the way to ensure you achieve your goals. Start your journey towards a rewarding and successful future today!”

Find Assisted Living & Nursing Homes

SeniorAdvisor.com is the premier consumer ratings and reviews site for senior living communities, care providers, and senior resources nationwide. Providing easy access to the information families need when making a senior living decision, SeniorAdvisor.com features trusted reviews and advice from seniors and their loved ones regarding communities, agencies, and professionals across the country.

For Assistance Call: (888) 848-5696

Medicar.gov You can use this tool to find and compare different types of Medicare providers (like physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, and others). Use our maps and filters to help you identify providers that are right for you.

Assisted Living.com Free expert guidance on choosing the right senior housing from a local Senior Living Advisor. Compassionate advisors will work with you to understand your loved one’s needs and help you find the best assisted living options for your unique needs and budget. Advisors live in the region they serve and can offer you an unbiased, insider’s view on local communities.

People Doing Good

Puzzles to Remember This is the organization that Max Wallack started before he was 15 years old! to get puzzles into the hands of people with Alzheimer’s disease. As a little boy Max saw that a simple jigsaw puzzle made a big difference in his great grandmother’s quality of life. He made it his mission to collect donated puzzles and distribute them to Alzheimer’s care facilities. That was in 2008, and Max and his organization are still going strong.

In Home Care Help

More people are keeping loved ones at home even though they may require specialized care for at least part of the day. If you need help caring for someone in your home or in their own home, you should be able to find an organization in your area from this list. Most are franchised and have offices all over the U.S.

Comfort Keepers The care services provided by Comfort Keepers are designed to help seniors and others maintain optimal levels of independence in the comfort of their own homes. In addition to providing assistance with household tasks, such as light housekeeping and meal preparation, and personal care tasks, such as bathing and grooming, Comfort Keepers offer their clients a wide range of companionship services, including conversation, walks, errands, (including transportation), as well as assistance with hobbies and other interests. We have used Comfort Keepers on several occasions, once to stay with Bernice during a short hospital stay. We were always pleased with the level of care they provided. Call (800) 387-2415

Home Instead Senior Care Home Instead Senior Care can help with compassionate, senior home care services delivered right in your loved one’s home. Whether a few hours a day or long-term care 24 hours a day, a CAREGiver can assist you. All CAREGivers are thoroughly screened, extensively trained, insured and bonded, matched to your preferences, professional and reliable. We used Home Instead Senior Care after Bernice fell in her assisted living facility and broke her wrist. She was able to continue living there because Home Instead provided 24 hour care for her until she was out of her cast.  Call (800) 640-3914

Visiting Angels The Visiting Angels national, private duty network of home care agencies is the nation’s leader for providing non-medical senior care. Our Angels provide in-home care, respite care, senior personal care, elder care, and companion care so that elderly adults can continue to live independently in their own homes throughout America. Call 800-365-4189

Homewatch Caregivers Exceptional in home caregiver services deliver peace of mind for you. Trained and experienced caregivers are employed by our network of home care agencies to keep your loved one safe while protecting their independence and preserving their dignity. It is our mission to provide help and relief to committed family caregivers.

Dementia Adventure (UK) Research shows that meaningful activity and connection with the natural environment can have a positive effect on people with dementia (Clarke et al, 2013) and has a positive effect on health and wellbeing (Greening Dementia, Natural England, Woodland Trust & Dementia Adventure, 2013).

Alternative Therapy

Memories in the Making Memories in the Making (MIM) art program provides Alzheimer’s artists with a forum to express themselves through painting and drawing, when words have failed them. Memories in the Making artists have proven over and over again that those with Alzheimer’s are “still here” by creating beautiful and meaningful artwork that provides a unique glimpse into their past.

For Love and Art For Love & Art brings treasures from great American museums – among the greatest works of genius the world has ever known — directly into the hearts of our communities. To hospice. To hospitals. To senior Living. To VA Medical Centers. To family.

The Society for the Arts in Dementia Care The Society for the Arts in Dementia Care provides an interdisciplinary forum for creative expression in dementia care, bringing together academic research and practical knowledge through collaboration between the medical profession and the creative arts.The Society aims to disseminate knowledge and establish ties with dementia care organisations worldwide, thereby improving the quality of life for people with dementia.

ARTZ (Artists for Alzheimer’s) ARTZ is an organization that links artists and cultural institutions to people living with dementia and their care partners. Influenced by science and sociology, ARTZ uses artistic and cultural experiences as keys to unlock creativity, create new memories, strengthen and develop relationships, and enrich lives in new, yet fundamental ways. ARTZ recognizes the wholeness that is inherent in each person, regardless of a diagnosis. We celebrate each person’s capacity to fully participate in the journey of life. We believe that access to creative expression is essential to our human experience.

American Music Therapy Association The mission of the American Music Therapy Association is to advance public awareness of the benefits of music therapy and increase access to quality music therapy services in a rapidly changing world.

The World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT) is an international nonprofit organization bringing together music therapy associations and individuals interested in developing and promoting music therapy globally through the exchange of information, collaboration among professionals and actions. Founded in 1985 in Genoa Italy, it is the only worldwide professional organization representing music therapy in many areas of the world.

Dr. Loretta Quinn: Registered Music Therapist Doctor Loretta Quinn (Registered Music Therapist) has had diverse experience in the field of Music Therapy in the areas of aged care, dementia and palliative care. She specialises in the areas of aged care, dementia, the primary and professional carers of people with dementia, both in the community and aged care setting.

With extensive experience and a strong commitment to the positive effects of Music Therapy, Loretta has recently produced a CD ‘Among My Souvenirs’, containing 51 well known songs, for the use for people with dementia. This CD also comes with instructions on simple music activities that can be used with these songs. These songs have been carefully recorded to ensure the maximum effectiveness for it’s audience, and satisfaction for staff/carers using this CD. This CD is also available online.

National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy is an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing public awareness of the benefits of true aromatherapy. NAHA is actively involved with promoting and elevating academic standards in aromatherapy education and practice for the profession. NAHA is also actively involved in furthering the public’s perception and knowledge of true aromatherapy and its safe and effective application in everyday life.

The International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists is one of the largest professional aromatherapy practitioner organizations in the world and is a strong, respected voice in the field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). Its inception in 2002, an amalgamation of the International Society of Professional Aromatherapists and the Register of Qualified Aromatherapist, was the result of a vision by the UK’s major international professional aromatherapy organisations to become the best they could.

Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms is a not-for-profit international organization founded in 1988, dedicated to fostering research, professional development and clinical applications in the fields of light therapy and biological rhythms. Members of the SLTBR have research and clinical interests in the healthy use of environmental lighting and in conditions related to light and biological rhythms including seasonal affective disorder (SAD), jet lag, shift work, sleep disorders, eating disorders, nonseasonal depression, bipolar disorder, and premenstrual syndrome. They study and use treatments including light therapy, chronotherapy, melatonin, serotonergic medications, and others. The corporate members of the SLTBR develop and market devices for the scientific measurement and the therapeutic use of light.

The Validation Training Institute Validation is a method of communicating with and helping people with dementia or who are otherwise disoriented. It is a practical way of working that helps reduce stress, enhance dignity and increase happiness. Validation is built on an empathetic attitude and a holistic view of individuals.

Miscellaneous

MyVision.org  Recent studies and research strongly link eye health to various conditions, including Alzheimer’s. The eyes are essentially an extension of the brain, and because Alzheimer’s affects the brain and its cognitive functions, specialized eye exams can help reveal warning signs of the disease. Aging and eyesight guide.