Communities, Groups, & Societies for Dementia

There are organizations and websites that provide support for caregivers, as well as advocacy for unpaid carers and people with dementia. This list is not exhaustive, but a small selection of a few that do exist for the benefit of caregivers and their care recipients:

• The Alzheimer Society gives a wealth of information on dementia and caregiving. Its Help and Support page has resources for all sorts of website visitors, whether they be someone diagnosed with dementia, a loved one, a caregiver, or a healthcare provider. They also pursue research in the areas of aging and dementia.

• The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) is an especially fortunate resource for those diagnosed with and caregivers of those with Frontotemporal Degeneration. They also provide guidance in finding local help.

• Generations, from the American Society on Aging (ASA) displays articles and research about aging and topics like dementia.

• Hilarity for Charity (HFC) is a non-profit that raises awareness about dementia and advocates for maintaining a healthy brain and lifestyle. They have raised money to directly support caregivers in need.

• Age UK: Love Later Life has advice and helpful information about COVID-19, financial and legal concerns, health, care, and employment. A special feature of this organization is Share Their Story, which is sharing celebrating, and promoting the stories of older adults’ lives.

• The Community Connect Adult Program has been offered online by Friendship Center Santa Barbara since the start of the pandemic. It is an incredible program that provides social interaction, emotional connection, physical activity, and cognitive exercise through virtual activities on Zoom.