Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap: In the Beginning Steps 7-10 / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

Have you completed the first six essential steps of the comprehensive 20-step caregiving journey roadmap guide Navigating Dementia Caregiving: Your Resource Roadmap for Every Stage? Are ready to take on more? Do you find yourself wanting to learn faster and more easily than trying to figure everything out on your own? If you answered ‘Yes’, you’re in the right place for the next phase of the dementia “In the Beginning” journey.

We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we’ve learned that building knowledge, and preparing for progression, are crucial for sustainable caregiving. We recently talked with Jenny Gay, licensed clinical social worker with Emory Integrated Memory Care, about our comprehensive 20-step caregiving journey roadmap guide: Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap. In this podcast, we’re sharing steps 7–10.

Connect with us and share your tips:

• Website: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/
• Donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney
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• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/
• Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Full Show Notes

Additional Resources Mentioned

In the Beginning - continued

Next Steps - You are ready for more 

7. Continue your education:

• Take the Savvy Caregiver course in person or online.
• Read this magazine:  
• Mayo Clinic Living with dementia: A guide to caregiving and support. 
• Find and take a virtual dementia tour near you. In the United States, in your search engine, type ‘virtual dementia tour’ +  ’your state’. For example: ‘virtual dementia tour Florida’ or, outside the US, replace your state with your country.

8. Start planning for the next stage of care.

• Build your personal support network:
• 21 minute TCJ podcast: 40. Create Your Personal Support Network
• TCJ blog: 40. Create Your Personal Support Network.
• Find and try a memory cafe (Caregivers and care receivers go together).
• Investigate dementia day centers (also known as adult day centers that include dementia care programs) for your care receiver. Community resource finder: 
• Select Community Services and choose Adult Day Centers for your search.
• Ask your loved one’s medical team for a home safety assessment.
• The goal is to have someone evaluate your home for safety and dementia care needs. 
• This is usually available through palliative care, GUIDE program, or an order from a physician.
• You can get a free assessment from social services with this order, or you can pay for an independent assessment from a private organization.

9. Investigate your local government community support: 

• In the US, contact your local Area Agency on Aging. Search for yours at Eldercare.acl.gov or call 1-800-677-1116.
• Call and set up a screening for eligibility:
• They will point you to any free government services where you are eligible. 
• Be sure to find out if you are eligible to get paid to be a caregiver. 

10. Evaluate driving risks. 

• Some US states have specific requirements for individuals with dementia to report their diagnosis and potentially undergo driving evaluations. 
• Listen to this podcast or read this blog:
• 21 minute TCJ podcast: 5. Taking Away the Keys
• TCJ blog: 5. Taking Away the Keys. 

• Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney

Takeaways

The Three Stages of the Dementia Caregiving Journey

1. In the Beginning - Your loved one receives a diagnosis. 

2. The Messy Middle - You begin asserting control; this is when it gets messy!

3. Later On - You are managing all aspects of their care. 

Read More in This Blog here