Some Great Alzheimer’s Resources
SHF is not a site specifically dedicated to Alzheimer’s. There are many great sites that cover the topic. The most obvious is the Alzheimer’s Association site. And anyone with average Internet search abilities can find a good number of resources online. What we wanted to cover here are some of the gems you may not run across right away. Let’s call them our desert-island picks. We’re sure that there are a few other choice resources for Alzheimer’s caregivers. Did we miss a really good one?
Coach Broyles’ Playbook for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Coach Frank Broyles, Athletic Director for the University of Arkansas, wanted to share what he had learned about Alzheimer’s caregiving because it had been difficult to find good information when he needed it. It’s the same sentiment that gave momentum to Senior Help Forum.
The Playbook is available for free as a PDF file from www.alzheimersplaybook.com, or you can call 800.272.3900 to request a copy. The book is 112 pages and extremely well laid out. It’s broken into four major, color-coded sections:
- Early Stage AD – may last 2-4 years
- Middle Stage AD – may last 2-10 years
- Late Stage AD – may last 1-3 years
- Resources Guide
Each of the first three sections are further broken into the following parts:
- Pre-Game Planning – Largely focused on knowing what you’re up against in this stage
- Coaches and Special Teams – Mostly addressing doctors and ‘special teams’ that might include anything from support groups to Hospice
- Playing Offense – Making sure that you have a plan in place, both daily and long-term, and being prepared to adjust the plans
- Playing Defense – Preparing for the likely behaviors that come with Alzheimer’s
- The Training Table – Special attention to nutrition for both the patient and the caregiver
What can we say? It’s the most thoughtfully presented guide to Alzheimer’s on the net.
Bonus: The Alzheimer’s Playbook site has a download page with the Playbook in numerous languages, a pocket tip sheet and Playbook audio book.
Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer’s
While the Mayo Clinic site has a few small quirks, it’s a nice site within the overall MC site. Quirks? It was a little off-putting that it started with the definition of Alzheimer’s. It gave the appearance that there wasn’t any depth to the site, which there is. There’s also a link to their “new blog” which links to the first post in 2006. Have no fear, they’ve posted as recently as March 19.
The site has a number of major areas for Alzheimer’s on tabs at the top of the page. The tabs include:
- Basics – Includes a number of subtopics like Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Risk factors, Complications, Preparing for your appointment
- In Depth – Is a deeper look at some of the topics in the Basics area
- Multimedia – Includes images, slide shows and podcasts
- Expert Answers – Coverage of AD related topics like, “Antipsychotic drugs: Can they help people with Alzheimer’s?”
- Expert Blog – With posts once, or twice, a month including topics like, “Should you tell someone about his or her Alzheimer’s diagnosis?”
- Resources – Links to a number of key Alzheimer’s sites
- What’s new – A page that points you to new content on the site
Alzheimer’s Association Publication Page
Finally, a single page from the Alzheimer’s Association site that is of particular merit is the publications page. Acrobat PDF files are often a place to find well crafted and focused reports on a particular topic. The Alzheimer’s association has pulled together a good number of documents and categorized them under the following groups:
- Basics
- Caregiving
- If You Have Dementia
- Quality Care
- Safety
- Financial/Legal
- Reports
- Alzheimer’s Association
There are 90+ files in this area, so we’ll only highlight a few.
- Alzheimer’s Disease: The Basics – A great 32-page introduction to Alzheimer’s.
- Respite Care Guide – A nice overview of getting a break if you’re a caregiver.
- Staying Safe – A brochure on safety at home, while traveling or in an emergency.
- Money Matters – A brochure on identifying the cost of care and how to pay for them.
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