The Alzheimer’s Association—a voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support, and research—and AARP—a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older—announced they are joining forces to extend the reach of the Community Resource Finder, an online database connecting families with local resources to help address concerns and navigate the challenges of Alzheimer’s, dementia, and aging.
The Alzheimer’s Association & AARP Community Resource Finder is a database of dementia and aging-related resources powered by Carelike®, an information and technology company specializing in the collection and distribution of data about US-based licensed professionals and senior-serving organizations. The online tool is said to “make it easy” for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, caregivers, and those involved in making care-related decisions, to find local programs and services.
The updated database expands the previously available Alzheimer’s Association Community Resource Finder which launched in 2011 and today reportedly receives 37,000 monthly visits. The new platform will help to extend the reach to even more people with care and support needs. It features additional resources from AARP, including webinars, programs, and events. It also offers a new advanced search tool to help people find local resources based on specific needs, such as payment options and specialized services. In addition, users are now able to share search results with family and other care team members to help facilitate caregiving decisions, keeping everyone informed, according to the announcement.
“The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to family caregivers across the country and knows that access to local care and support services is critical,” said Beth Kallmyer, vice president, care and support, Alzheimer’s Association. “Caregiving can be enormously stressful and even more so when you don’t know where to turn to for help. The Alzheimer’s Association & AARP Community Resource Finder will help connect caregivers to the information and support services they need.”
“AARP has a long history of advocating for and supporting our nation’s 40 million family caregivers by providing resources and services to help them,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president and chief advocacy & engagement officer. “Every community offers different services, and caregivers often don’t have the information or time to track down different options. By working together, our organizations can help more people find the resources that they need right in their own communities.”
The Alzheimer’s Association & AARP Community Resource Finder allows caregivers to search available resources in their area by simply entering their zip code. The database includes listings for a wide range of services, including:
- Housing options;
- Care at home;
- Medical services;
- Legal services, including elder law attorneys;
- Community services, such as adult day centers and transportation;
- Alzheimer’s Association information, programs, and services,
- AARP information, programs and services.
The Alzheimer’s Association & AARP Community Resource Finder also offers additional features to assist family caregivers, including tip sheets to help guide decisions regarding various providers and services, links to online communities, a glossary of terms for caregivers, and state-by-state licensing information for residential, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes.
Source: The Alzheimer’s Association, AARP
Images: The Alzheimer’s Association, AARP
