How We Support Caregivers Like You
We’re a boots-on-the-ground organization serving Alaskans through the journey of Alzheimer's and related dementias. Only one person in the care partnership needs to live in Alaska to access our services and support.
Download The Caregiver Resource Guide
The Caregiver Resource Guide is a practical handbook created for Alaskans. It covers topics like communication, home safety, financial planning, respite care, and more. Inside, you’ll also find a caregiver checklist you can use to track medications, appointments, daily routines, and important documents — a tool that helps you stay organized and ready for each stage of the journey.
Caring for the Caregiver
You matter, too. It’s common for caregivers to experience burnout, fatigue, or isolation but your well-being is just as important as your loved one’s care.
Alzheimer's Resource Alaska offers:
When More Help is Needed
As care needs grow more complex, our Care Navigation and Care Coordination teams can help you understand available home and community-based services, plan next steps, navigate the Medicaid Waiver and grant programs, and access long-term planning and advocacy support.
We’re here to make sure you and your loved one get the help you need to thrive, no matter where you live in Alaska.
Communication Tips
One of the earliest and most common challenges caregivers face is communication. Conversations that once felt effortless may now involve repeated questions, forgotten words, or frustration on both sides.
The key is remembering that communication is about more than words — it’s about connection. Even if sentences falter, tone, body language, and patience can carry meaning.
Adjusting how you communicate preserves dignity, lowers frustration, and helps both of you feel more connected.
Responding to Behavior Changes
It can be unsettling the first time your loved one wanders outside at night, becomes unusually agitated, or starts repeating the same question every few minutes. These changes are symptoms of dementia — not deliberate choices. Understanding that helps you respond with compassion rather than frustration.
Many behaviors have triggers: fatigue, hunger, noise, or even changes in lighting at sunset. Watching for patterns can help you anticipate challenges. For example, if agitation always increases in the evening, creating a calming routine before dusk may ease the transition.
Caregivers often find these approaches helpful:
Behaviors can feel overwhelming, but they are ways of expressing unmet needs. Responding with patience and creativity can reduce stress for both of you.
Home Safety & Daily Living
As dementia progresses, everyday tasks and familiar spaces can become confusing or even hazardous. Creating a safe, supportive environment helps your loved one remain as independent as possible — and gives you peace of mind.
In Alaska, safety has its own considerations: icy walkways, long hours of winter darkness, and remote homes where emergency help may be far away. Paying attention to the environment is one of the most effective ways to prevent accidents.
Some practical adjustments include:
These changes reduce stress, support independence, and create a safer home where your loved one can thrive.
Planning & Logistics
One of the hardest realities of caregiving is that dementia is progressive — needs will increase over time. Many families put off planning until a crisis forces decisions. Getting organized now helps protect your loved one’s wishes and reduces stress for everyone later.
Here are five areas where planning ahead makes the biggest difference:
The Caregiver Resource Guide includes a practical checklist to help you get started in each of these areas. Planning ahead isn’t just about paperwork. It’s about honoring choices, protecting relationships, and making sure you’re ready for what comes next.
Caring from a Distance
Not every caregiver lives under the same roof. In Alaska, families are often spread across long distances — sometimes hundreds of miles apart. That makes coordination harder, but it’s still possible to provide meaningful care.
You can play a vital role even from afar by:
Geography doesn’t diminish love or responsibility. With planning and the right tools, you can provide support and reassurance even across great distances.
Finding Support & Services
Caregiving can be a heavy responsibility, but you don’t have to do it all yourself. In Alaska, there are services and supports available to help you build skills, find encouragement, and share the load.
Having support in place gives you confidence, reduces stress, and ensures your loved one’s needs are met. Some of the most helpful options include:
Classes and training
Programs like Caregiving 101 and Savvy Caregiver provide practical strategies for daily challenges.
Support groups
Safe spaces where you can share experiences, learn from others, and find encouragement.
Care coordination
Resource Specialists help you navigate services, connect with providers, and plan for future needs.
Veterans support
If your loved one served in the military, additional VA benefits may be available. A Resource Specialist can help you explore these options.
Helpful Technology
Technology won’t replace your role as a caregiver, but it can make life easier. From simple devices to smart systems, the right tools can increase safety and reduce worry.
Examples include:
Technology can extend independence for your loved one, give you peace of mind, and help you share caregiving responsibilities more effectively.
Take Your Next Steps
Learning is the first step. The next step is finding the right support. We offer a variety of resources for each step of your journey. Plus, our Resource Specialists are here to guide you and your family every step of the way.
Get the Caregiver Resource Guide
Practical handbook for every stage of the journey.
Talk to a Resource Specialist
Personalized guidance to find the support you need.
Explore Our Classes
Engaging classes to strengthen memory and focus.
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