Resources | Community | Legal Planning |
Long Distance Caregiving Project

Resources and Services
The following are resources and services available to caregivers of people with dementia. The resources and services are not a complete list of all the resources and services available. The Alzheimer's Association hopes that this will give you a variety and a start in planning care for your loved one.

Alzheimer's Association Services
Helpline: A telephone information and referral service staffed by trained and dedicated volunteers. The Helpline provides information about services available in the community: Support groups, diagnostic centers, day care centers, referrals for legal issues, and respite care are just a few of the various types of information available to callers. Call the Helpline at (800) 272-3900. A Spanish language Helpline is also available at (800) 633-5767.

Library: A collection of books, journals, audio and visual tapes are available to the community on loan or for use in the Association office. For an appointment call (323) 938-3379.

Latino Alzheimer Project: A federally funded demonstration project to bring dementia education and services to Spanish speaking families in South and East Los Angeles. Services include; Spanish Helpline, care management, legal consultation and respite assistance.

Asian American Dementia Care Network: The Asian American Dementia Care Network is a three year demonstration project that serves Chinese and Korean American families in Los Angeles. To learn more, click here.

Long Distance Caregiver Project: A special project to assist caregivers living outside Los Angeles County, who are caring for a loved one in Los Angeles County. Call our Helpline for more information. Check the database for specific resources.

Chapter Quarterly Magazine: A quarterly magazine is published to inform readers of current programs and services as well as to provide information on issues of concern to caregivers and the community. Please call the helpline to receive the magazine: (800) 272-3900.

Support Groups
Wouldn’t it be nice to talk or listen to someone who is walking in similar shoes as you, a care provider for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia? Each day may bring about a new challenge or provide you with a new reason to smile. It is for all of these times, the good, the sad, the daily challenges and rewards that support groups were created. These groups provide caregivers the opportunity to speak freely, ask questions that may be sensitive, seek suggestions from people who are dealing with similar situations, or just listen and absorb the general information shared about the disease and its process.

As no two persons experiences are exactly the same, many caregiving themes are similar.

The focus of group is on the caregiving experience:

  • To better deal with stress
  • Learn about community resources & services
  • Keep abreast of research & treatment developments
  • AND. . . To show you are not alone!
There are over 120 support groups located in the Los Angeles, Riverside, & San Bernardino County Area. To find a support group in your area, visit the Support Group section of our site or call our helpline at (800) 272-3900.

Wanderer's Registry/Safe Return
One of the behaviors associated with Alzheimer's disease is wandering, causing individuals to become disoriented and lost. Nearly 60% of people with Alzheimer's disease living at home will wander during the course of the disease and sometimes frequently. Up to 25% of those residing in residential care facilities will wander. Once an individual wanders they have a 40% chance of wandering again.

Wandering cannot be predicted-it can occur anytime, anyplace.

If not located within 24 hours, 46% of wandering individuals may die. People who care for Alzheimer's patients often decide to overlook wandering behavior until it becomes dangerous to the patient and to others.

There are many reasons why an Alzheimer's patient may wander or walk away from home:

  • Medications
  • Stress
  • Time Confusion
  • Basic Needs
  • Restlessness
  • Fear
  • Past Behavior
  • Other factors that may contribute to wandering include: medical conditions such as stroke, consumption of alcohol, changes in the weather, or feeling abandoned, useless or helpless.
Tips To Prevent Wandering
  • Check frequently to see if the person is hungry, needs to go to the bathroom, or feels uncomfortable.
  • Encourage movement and exercise to reduce anxiety and restlessness.
  • Involve the person in daily activities such as folding laundry or preparing a meal.
  • Remind the person that you know how to find them and that they are in the right place.
  • Reduce noise levels and confusion.
  • Reassure the person who may feel lost, abandoned, or disoriented.
  • Alert police ahead of time that you care for a person with dementia.
  • Make a plan of what to do if the person becomes lost.
Be Prepared For A Wandering Incident
There is no way to predict who will wander and when and how it might happen. Some people never get lost and others get lost frequently. The best advice is to be prepared.
  • Keep a list of the person's age, height, weight, hair color, blood type, eye color, identifying marks, medical condition, medication, dental work, jewelry, allergies and complexion.
  • Make multiple copies of a recent close-up photograph.
  • Make a list of places the person might go, such as familiar walking routes, former neighborhoods, places of worship, workplaces, or favorite places.
  • Keep scented clothing on hand to give to police. Wearing plastic gloves, store a piece of the person's unwashed clothing in a sealed bag. Replace it monthly to retain scent.
  • Make a list of possible dangerous areas you have identified in the neighborhood.
The Safe Return Program
The Alzheimer's Association offers a wanderer's registry called Safe Return, the only nationwide system that helps identify, locate and return individual's with Alzheimer's and related disorders who wander and become lost. Each individual is issued a bracelet bearing an identification number, first name, the words "Memory Loss", and a central phone number.

When a person with Alzheimer's disease is registered with the program and has wandered, the bracelet informs law enforcement agents or good Samaritans to call the toll-free Safe Return hotline. Safe Return then attempts to locate the individual through matching calls of found persons. Using the identification information, the 24-hour, 7 day-a-week national photo database is searched and matched to the wanderer's address and family. He or she can then be safely returned home.

You can now complete Safe Return registration on-line at www.alz.org/SafeReturn, 24 hours a day, using your Visa, Mastercard or American Express. You can also register through our Helpline by calling (800) 272-3900. There is a one-time fee of $40.00 and some assistance is available to Los Angeles County residents in financial need.


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