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Dementia & Brain Health

Whether you are living with dementia or supporting someone who is, there is help available.

With the right resources, it is possible to maintain a good quality of life and live well. 

I am Living with Dementia

Recieving a dementia diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but you can still be a part of your care. It helps to create a team that includes your doctors, community services, family and others who care about you. They can support and help you make choices so you can keep living your life and doing things on your own as much as possible. 

 

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I Support a Person Living with Dementia 

Supporting someone with dementia may not have been part of your plan — but here you are. You might be facing things you don't understand or situations you’re not sure how to handle. Just like the person you're caring for needs support, so do you. You are not alone, and you don’t have to do this alone.

 

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  • Learn About Dementia

    One of the best ways to support a person living with dementia is to learn more about it. Dementia affects more than just memory; it can impact behavior, communication, and daily routines. Understanding these changes can help you provide more effective and compassionate support.  

     

    Description: Offers a wide range of free educational programs for caregivers and families, covering topics like understanding dementia, managing challenging behaviors, and planning for the future. Programs are available online and in person, along with support groups and 24/7 hotline. 

     

    Description: Provides local educational classes, workshops and resources tailored for caregivers. They also offer free support groups and care navigation. 

     

    Description: Offers practical, video-based trainings and resources to help caregivers better understand dementia and provide person-centered support. Teeapa's approach focuses on empathy, connection and using simple techniques to reduce stress for both the caregiver and the person living with dementia. 

     

    Description: Check out their series of videos produced by the UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care program to help caregivers how to better care for a person living with dementia ranging from a variety of topics including aggressive behavior, anxiety, depression, hallucinations, home safety, refusal to bathe/take medications, repetitive behaviors, inappropriate behaviors, sleep disturbances, sundowning and wandering. 

     

  • Find Caregiver Support and Respite Services

    What is Respite? 

    Respite is temporary relief for caregivers. It gives family members a break from caregiving duties, helping them recharge and reduce stress. Respite can take many forms, such as in-home care, adult day programs, or short-term stays in care facilities.

     

    Description: A network of local organizations and agencies working together to support family caregivers. They offer free conferences, community resources, webinars, and referrals focused on caregiving.

     

    Description: Offers a wide range of services for persons living with dementia, including a specialized dementia day program that provides a safe and engaging environment. 

     

    Description: Offers adult day programs specializing in dementia care, providing a safe and engaging environment for individuals living with dementia and respite for their caregivers.

     

    Description: Provides services for caregivers, including those supporting a person living with dementia. Services include free respite care, legal and financial counseling, support groups, education, and personalized care planning.

     

     

  • Legal and Healthcare Services

    You cannot predict the future, but you can plan for the evolving needs of someone living with dementia. Proactive planning is necessary to navigate care decisions and support quality of life at every stage.

     

    Description: Provides free and low-cost legal services, Medicare counseling, and elder rights  advocacy to support and protect older adults and their caregivers in San Diego and Imperial Counties

     

    Description: Provides free legal help with housing,  healthcare, public benefits, and planning for future  care.

     

     

  • Safety and Risk Reduction

    For individuals living with dementia, finding the right balance between safety and independence can be challenging. Below are some tools and interventions that can support autonomy while helping to reduce risk.

     

    Description: Learn more about fall risk factors, prevention strategies, and community-based resources such as minor home repair. 

     

    Description:  This is a free registry that helps law enforcement reunite persons living with dementia with their home if they become lost. The enrollees information is accessible to first responders to ensure a safe return home.

     

    Description: It may be time to explore other care options if a person living with dementia is no longer safe at home. Choose Well San Diego is a web-based tool designed to help individuals and families find and compare licensed assisted living facilities in San Diego County. It provides detailed information on facility quality, services, and amenities..

     

 

 

Handouts and Materials

Aging & Independence Services, in collaboration with local community partners have created resources that aim to enhance understanding, support and quality of life for persons living with dementia. These tools are designed  to promote dignity, reduce stigma and connect families to helpful services across San Diego County. 

 

The Caregiver Handbook is a comprehensive booklet created by the Caregiver Coalition. It includes valuable information and practical tips to support caregivers caring for a person living with dementia. 

The Dementia-Friendly Activities Toolkit was created by the Social Participation and Dementia & Brain Health AgeWell Teams. It offers practical strategies to help keep persons living with dementia engaged and connected. It includes a variety of activity ideas that can be tailored to the person's interest and abilities. 

The  Communication Card is a helpful tool to use when you're out in public with a person living with dementia. It allows you to communicate discreetly and respectful, letting other knows that the person may need extra time, patience or a different approach.  

I am Interested in Dementia-Friendly Communities

Dementia-friendly communities are places where people living with dementia are understood, respected, and supported. Small changes can make a big difference— whether you are a business, faith group, restaurant or community member. By learning more and making simple adjustments, you can help people living with dementia feel safe, included and valued. 

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Learn More About Our Community Dementia Efforts

AlzProject

The Alzheimer’s project began in 2014 when Dianne Jacob, then Chairwoman, made a call to action to address the Alzheimer’s epidemic and its toll on families, communities, and health care systems. Today, The Alzheimer’s Project is an initiative moving vertically from educating the community to developing policies that address the challenges brought on by Alzheimer’s disease. Working all over the region, The Alzheimer’s Project collaborates with dedicated partners who continuously support researchers in their quest to find effective treatments and a cure for the growing number of San Diegans affected by this disease.

 

 

The Alzheimer’s project began in 2014 when Dianne Jacob, then Chairwoman, made a call to action to address the Alzheimer’s epidemic and its toll on families, communities, and health care systems. Today, The Alzheimer’s Project is an initiative moving vertically from educating the community to developing policies that address the challenges brought on by Alzheimer’s disease. Working all over the region, The Alzheimer’s Project collaborates with dedicated partners who continuously support researchers in their quest to find effective treatments and a cure for the growing number of San Diegans affected by this disease.

 

National Programs and Resources

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