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Dementia Care (including Alzheimer's)
Care for Veterans with Alzheimer’s or dementia is provided throughout the full range of VA health care services. Depending on the Veteran's needs, services may include home based primary care, homemaker and home health aide, respite care, adult day health care, outpatient clinic, inpatient hospital, nursing home, palliative care, or hospice care. Caregiver support is an essential part of all of these services.
If you’ve been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease or are caring for someone who is, become familiar with the symptoms, types, stages, and treatments:
- Understanding Dementia — Get basic information about what dementia is, the stages, and treatments.
- Coping with Your Dementia Diagnosis — Find out how to keep healthy and active, arrange for safety at home and in the community, and plan for the future.
- Understanding Reversible Dementias — Read about factors that can cause symptoms that mimic Alzheimer’s disease.
- Caring for Dementia: What to Expect — Learn how caregivers can help with daily life, find new ways to communicate, and cope with problem behaviors.
- Caring for End-Stage Dementia — Learn how to recognize advanced or end-stage dementia and what to do to help.
Now Available: Home Safety Workbook for Caregivers of People with Dementia
- Workbook with evidence based information
- Practical tips for home safety for caregivers
- Includes itemized list to take to the store
- Easy to read with helpful illustrations
- A home safety toolkit with this workbook was tested in a randomized control trial (RCT) with safety equipment (such as night lights and motion sensors). Veterans had significantly fewer (p < 0.001) risky behaviors and accidents. Caregivers had significantly improved: Home environmental safety (p < 0.001); Caregiver self-efficacy (confidence in their caregiving skills) (p < 0.006); Caregiver strain (p < 0.001)
Care Coordination: Getting the Workbook to Caregivers
- Verify there is a caregiver who speaks English living with the Veteran
- Download the Home Safety Workbook from the VA GEC internet website: Home Safety Workbook
- Print and give workbook to caregiver
- Explain the workbook to the caregiver
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
QUESTION: Where can I find basic information about dementia for Veterans and Families?
ANSWER:
- Go to the Veterans Health Library (VHL) www.veteranshealthlibrary.org,
- and Search for “Dementia”
QUESTION: What are some resources for Dementia Caregiver Support?
ANSWER:
- VA Caregiver Support Website: www.caregiver.va.gov
- VA Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274
- VHA GEC Shared Decision Making Guide: www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/Guide/LongTermCare/Shared_Decision_Making.asp
- VHA Office of Rural Health Dementia Caregiver Video Series (22 short videos): www.ruralhealth.va.gov/vets/resources.asp
- HHS Alzheimer’s Website: www.alzheimers.gov
- National Institute on Aging (NIA) Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center (ADEAR): www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
- U.S. Administration on Aging Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116; www.eldercare.gov
