The Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska’s factsheets cover a wide range of dementia-related topics. Click on any of the sheets below to print, view or save as a PDF.

10 Steps in Planning for the Future
Caring for someone with a progressive dementia brings about many new challenges and new things to learn. The following ten steps can help caregivers provide the best possible care for those with a progressive dementia, while maintaining their own health and well‐being.

10 Warning Signs
Progressive dementias are not part of normal aging. While a diagnosis of a progressive dementia should only be determined by qualified health care professionals, these warning signs could be indicators to get checked out.

Activities  for Adults with Dementia
Activities help avoid “Empty Day Syndrome” and help behaviors such as “Sundowning” and wandering. Here are 15 activities that can be easily modified according to an individual’s ability level.

Alzheimer’s Disease Facts
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of progressive dementia. This degenerative disease attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking, and behavior. Here’s what to know about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, causes, research and statistics.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Dementia itself is not a disease but a broader set of symptoms that accompany certain diseases or physical conditions. So what are the “related dementias” (RD)? We discuss those here, as well as what makes them different and in what ways are they alike.

Caregivers Checklist
Caring for a family member can seem overwhelming. This checklist helps guide you through the transition.

Communication Tips
Communicating with someone who is living with dementia takes a thoughtful approach. These tips will help you meet them where they are at.

Combativeness
Restlessness, agitation, striking out, and outbursts are usually brief, although at the time it doesn’t seem that way. Unfortunately, this type of behavior is sometimes a distressing consequence of many of the dementias. These tips will help to work through this type of behavior.

Considering Assisted Living?
Although it may be difficult to acknowledge that your loved one can no longer be cared for at home, it’s never too early to explore assisted living home options.

Diagnosis
These are some of the tools that physicians may use to help those who are concerned about dementia.

Dining Tips
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias can cause a decline in everyday activities including dining. Many individuals still maintain strengths or overlearned behaviors and eating can be one of those. As the disease progresses some may need help getting started eating, but may be able to continue once they begin the activity. Here are some tips to maintain independence or assist as needed with dining.

Driving and Dementia – The Dilemma
Individuals with progressive dementias often demonstrate deficiencies in judgment and performance behind the wheel. The responsibility for curtailing an individual with progressive dementia’s driving usually falls to the caregiver. Here are some suggestions for dealing with what can be a difficult time for everyone involved.

Introducing Services
Once the decision has been made to bring services into the home or involve your loved one in a day program, it is important to think about how to introduce the change.

Medications & Dementia
Current medications can’t cure Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, but they might be able to slow it down and make it easier to live with. They may relieve symptoms related to memory, thinking, language and other thought processes. In addition, they may also help with mood, agitation and other behavioral issues.

“Normal” Aging Memory Loss vs. Alzheimer’s or Progressive Dementia
Have you ever walked into a room and forgot why you went in there? Here are some tips to distinguish between “normal” memory loss versus memory loss due to a progressive dementia such as Alzheimer’s.

Prevention – What’s Good for the Heart is Good for the Brain
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are irreversible. Although the risk of developing an ADRD increases with age, these tips can potentially minimize the symptoms of dementia.

Strategies for Wandering Behavior
For many, as dementia progresses, there is a need to walk and move about. Walking is not a problem in itself but getting hurt or lost is. These strategies guide you through options that support individual autonomy while easing concerns for safety.

Stages and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Not everyone experiencing dementia will have all of these symptoms but this is what many people living with Alzheimer’s or related experience.

Talking with Children about Dementia
Helping children understand what is happening provides reassurance and direction.  Here are some tips to help with providing information, encouraging questions and opening up conversations about feelings and concerns with children of all ages.

Traveling with Someone with Dementia
At some point, traveling with your loved one who has dementia may not be possible. Here are some tips to ease traveling as much as possible.

Treatment for Common Conditions and Symptoms for People with Dementia
Some medications may help with one condition while worsening memory and thinking or have problematic side effects. We offer suggestions and safer alternatives to consider, both drug and non-drug interventions.