Information, tools & support

Find support for the moment you are in.

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Resource library

59 helpful results

Start Here remains available when you are unsure what to search. External organizations are trusted starting points, not paid placements.

24/7 support · Public — no sign-in

Alzheimer’s Association

Find local chapters, support groups, education, wandering resources, and the 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.

Alzheimer’s · Dementia · Caregiver wellness · Safety · Caregiver Directory
Official external resource
Free member printable · Free membership required

Appointment Notes and Questions

Organize changes, observations, questions, and follow-up instructions for a healthcare visit.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Appointment Worksheet
Original library · August 2026
Preview printable
Along the Way guide · Public — no sign-in

Appointments or hospital visits

Prepare the care team, protect dignity, and bring the information that matters most.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Article / Guide
Updated September 2026
Open guide
Free member printable · Free membership required

Backup Care Plan

Identify who can step in, what they need to know, and what to do if support falls through.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Planning Worksheet
Updated September 14, 2026
Preview printable
Along the Way guide · Public — no sign-in

Bathing or toileting

Gentle preparation, one-step cues, and dignity-preserving ways to make personal care feel less overwhelming.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Article / Guide
Updated September 2026
Open guide
Explore a topic · Public — no sign-in

Behavior, Emotions & Sleep

Look for comfort needs, reduce pressure, and recognize when a change needs medical attention.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Topic Hub
Updated September 2026
Explore topic
Benefits and programs · Public — no sign-in

BenefitsCheckUp

A National Council on Aging tool for benefit programs that may help with health care, food, utilities, and more.

Elderly care · Legal planning · Planning Resource
Official external resource
Free member printable · Free membership required

Calm Nighttime Routine

A simple evening checklist for creating a familiar, safer path toward bedtime.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Checklist
Original library · August 2026
Preview printable
Free member printable · Free membership required

Caregiver Check-In

A private, honest page for noticing your own needs and choosing one realistic next step.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Checklist
Original library · August 2026
Preview printable
Along the Way guide · Public — no sign-in

Caregiver exhaustion

Make the next request specific, create a backup plan, and remember that needing help is not failing.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Article / Guide
Updated September 2026
Open guide
Free member printable · Free membership required

Caregiver Outing Checklist

Plan a more comfortable outing with practical supplies and dignity-preserving communication.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Checklist
Original library · August 2026
Preview printable
Explore a topic · Public — no sign-in

Caregiver Wellbeing, Family & Friends

Share the load, make room for grief, and stay connected without taking over.

Caregiver wellness · Family and friends · Topic Hub
Updated September 2026
Explore topic
Medicare · Public — no sign-in

CMS GUIDE Model

Learn about participating dementia-care programs that may offer care navigation, caregiver education, and respite support for eligible people.

Alzheimer’s · Dementia · Caregiver wellness · Elderly care · Planning Resource
Official external resource
Learn about GUIDE
Free member printable · Free membership required

Comfort and Trigger Log

Look for patterns behind distress while recording what helped without labeling the person as the problem.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Tracker
Original library · August 2026
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Explore a topic · Public — no sign-in

Communication & Staying Connected

Respectful ways to listen, offer support, and respond in difficult moments.

Dementia · Communication · Topic Hub
Updated September 2026
Explore topic
Free member printable · Free membership required

Communication Tips — One Step at a Time

A quick communication guide for moments when instructions feel overwhelming.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Printable
Original library · August 2026
Preview printable
Explore a topic · Public — no sign-in

Daily Life, Meals & Connection

Build familiar routines, support personal choices, and make room for enjoyable time together.

Dementia · Routines · Activities · Topic Hub
Updated September 2026
Explore topic
Free member printable · Free membership required

Daily Routine & Care Planner

Keep today’s routine, meals, appointments, comfort needs, and one support-person priority together.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Checklist
Original library · August 2026
Preview printable
Along the Way guide · Public — no sign-in

Eating or drinking

Reduce distractions, simplify choices, and notice changes that may need professional attention.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Article / Guide
Updated September 2026
Open guide
Find local help · Public — no sign-in

Eldercare Locator

Search by ZIP code for an Area Agency on Aging, respite support, benefits counseling, transportation, and local aging services.

Elderly care · Caregiver wellness · Legal planning · Planning Resource
Official external resource
Find services near me
Free member printable · Free membership required

Emergency Information Sheet

Keep essential contacts, communication needs, and comfort information together for urgent situations.

Dementia · Routines · Safety · Safety Checklist
Original library · August 2026
Preview printable
Free member printable · Free membership required

Family & Friends Help Schedule

Turn offers of help into clear tasks, times, and backup arrangements.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Printable
Updated September 14, 2026
Preview printable
Caregiver support · Public — no sign-in

Family Caregiver Alliance

Caregiver education, state-by-state services, planning tools, and support for families caring for adults with chronic conditions.

Caregiver wellness · Dementia · Elderly care · Legal planning · Caregiver Directory
Official external resource
Along the Way guide · Public — no sign-in

Fear, anger, or agitation

Look for the feeling or unmet need first, then lower pressure and stimulation.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Article / Guide
Updated September 2026
Open guide
Free member printable · Free membership required

Gentle Connection Ideas

Low-pressure activities that can support comfort, identity, purpose, and time together.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Printable
Original library · August 2026
Preview printable
Explore a topic · Public — no sign-in

Home Safety & Wandering

Prepare for everyday risks, driving conversations, exit seeking, and emergencies.

Safety · Dementia · Topic Hub
Updated September 2026
Explore topic
Free member printable · Free membership required

Home Safety Walkthrough

A room-by-room checklist for spotting common risks and making important spaces easier to recognize.

Dementia · Routines · Safety · Safety Checklist
Original library · August 2026
Preview printable
Free member printable · Free membership required

Hospital Go-Bag Checklist

A practical packing and handoff list for an unexpected or planned hospital visit.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Checklist
Updated September 14, 2026
Preview printable
Free member printable · Free membership required

Hydration Notes

A simple record of drinks offered and taken, without a one-size-fits-all fluid target.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Worksheet
Updated September 14, 2026
Preview printable
Free member printable · Free membership required

Important Document Checklist

Track which legal, financial, health, and care-planning documents exist and where trusted people can find them.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Planning Checklist
Original library · August 2026
Preview printable
For people experiencing changes · Public — no sign-in

Living With Memory Changes

A direct starting place for your questions, appointments, daily choices, and staying involved in decisions.

Dementia · Alzheimer’s · Starting Guide
Updated September 2026
Free member printable · Free membership required

Loved One at a Glance — Respite Information

A private preference sheet to help trusted family members or respite caregivers provide familiar care.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Worksheet
Original library · August 2026
Preview printable
Free member printable · Free membership required

Meal & Drink Preferences

Record tastes, routines, and the help a person actually wants at mealtimes.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Worksheet
Updated September 14, 2026
Preview printable
Explore a topic · Public — no sign-in

Medical Appointments & Hospital Visits

Prepare useful questions, bring the right information, and plan the return home.

Dementia · Medical appointments · Topic Hub
Updated September 2026
Explore topic
Free member printable · Free membership required

Medication Checklist Template

A blank organization sheet to use alongside the current medication list and instructions from the care team.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Medication Checklist
Original library · August 2026
Preview printable
Trusted education · Public — no sign-in

National Institute on Aging

Government information about dementia caregiving, daily care, safety, planning, services, and caregiver health.

Alzheimer’s · Dementia · Safety · Routines · Article / Guide
Official external resource
Explore a topic · Public — no sign-in

New Diagnosis & Understanding Dementia

Make sense of unfamiliar words, prepare questions, and choose a manageable next step.

Dementia · Alzheimer’s · Topic Hub
Updated September 2026
Explore topic
Explore a topic · Public — no sign-in

Planning Ahead & Finding Outside Help

Prepare care preferences, important documents, and questions about services and costs.

Legal planning · Elderly care · Caregiver wellness · Topic Hub
Updated September 2026
Explore topic
Free member printable · Free membership required

Printable Care Binder Index

Create a simple table of contents for the information trusted caregivers may need.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Planning Checklist
Original library · August 2026
Preview printable
Free member printable · Free membership required

Respite-Care Planning Worksheet

Plan a safer handoff so another trusted person can step in while the caregiver rests or handles other needs.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Worksheet
Original library · August 2026
Preview printable
Along the Way guide · Public — no sign-in

Sleep or nighttime confusion

Build a familiar evening rhythm and a safer nighttime path without turning every night into a battle.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Article / Guide
Updated September 2026
Open guide
What Do I Say When… · Public — no sign-in

They accuse someone of stealing

Take the concern seriously and check what happened. Dementia does not mean theft or exploitation cannot occur.

Dementia · Communication · Response Guide
Updated September 2026
See response options
What Do I Say When… · Public — no sign-in

They ask for someone who has died

Choose a response based on what the person understands and how they react. The goal is to respond with care, not to test memory.

Dementia · Communication · Response Guide
Updated September 2026
See response options
What Do I Say When… · Public — no sign-in

They ask to go home

“Home” may mean a familiar place, person, or feeling of safety. First check whether there is a real need or unsafe situation.

Dementia · Communication · Response Guide
Updated September 2026
See response options
What Do I Say When… · Public — no sign-in

They become angry

Give physical space and stop a nonessential task. Your safety matters too.

Dementia · Communication · Response Guide
Updated September 2026
See response options
What Do I Say When… · Public — no sign-in

They become frightened

Check for an actual source of danger, discomfort, or confusion before choosing reassurance.

Dementia · Communication · Response Guide
Updated September 2026
See response options
What Do I Say When… · Public — no sign-in

They believe they need to go to work

Work may represent duty, identity, or a familiar routine. Listen for what the person feels responsible for.

Dementia · Communication · Response Guide
Updated September 2026
See response options
What Do I Say When… · Public — no sign-in

They do not recognize someone

An introduction can be more useful than asking the person to identify you.

Dementia · Communication · Response Guide
Updated September 2026
See response options
What Do I Say When… · Public — no sign-in

They refuse a shower

Consider privacy, temperature, pain, fear, and who is helping. A refusal is communication, not an invitation to force care.

Dementia · Communication · Response Guide
Updated September 2026
See response options
What Do I Say When… · Public — no sign-in

They refuse medication

Listen for a concern about taste, swallowing, effects, or what the medicine is for. Follow current professional instructions.

Dementia · Communication · Response Guide
Updated September 2026
See response options
What Do I Say When… · Public — no sign-in

They remember an event differently

Not every difference needs to become a correction. Safety, consent, and financial or medical decisions still require accurate information.

Dementia · Communication · Response Guide
Updated September 2026
See response options
What Do I Say When… · Public — no sign-in

They repeat the same question

They may not remember asking, or may be looking for reassurance about what happens next.

Dementia · Communication · Response Guide
Updated September 2026
See response options
What Do I Say When… · Public — no sign-in

They repeatedly ask the date or time

A clock or calendar may help if it is understandable and reassuring to the person.

Dementia · Communication · Response Guide
Updated September 2026
See response options
What Do I Say When… · Public — no sign-in

They want to leave

Ask about the destination and look for a need such as movement, the bathroom, company, or a quieter place.

Dementia · Communication · Response Guide
Updated September 2026
See response options
Along the Way guide · Public — no sign-in

Wandering or home safety

Prepare a response plan, reduce hazards, and make important spaces easier to recognize.

Dementia · Routines · Safety · Safety Resource
Updated September 2026
Open guide
Safety · Public — no sign-in

Wandering Prevention and Response

Prepare a wandering response plan, learn common risk signs, and know what to do if a person is missing.

Safety · Alzheimer’s · Dementia · Safety Resource
Official external resource
Free member printable · Free membership required

Wandering Response Plan

Prepare a private contact and response plan before someone is missing.

Dementia · Routines · Safety · Safety Checklist
Updated September 14, 2026
Preview printable
Free member printable · Free membership required

What Helps Me — My Voice & Preferences

A first-person profile you can complete yourself or with someone you choose.

Dementia · Routines · Caregiver wellness · Printable
Updated September 14, 2026
Preview printable
Educational guide · Public — no sign-in

What Stage Might We Be In?

Review a gentle, non-diagnostic overview of changing support needs and prepare useful observations for the care team.

Alzheimer’s · Dementia · Elderly care · Educational Guide
Reviewed August 2026
Open the stage guide

Browse by what matters

A place to begin, a path to more help.

Each topic brings together practical guidance, related tools, and trusted outside resources.

Looking for words or a practical tool?

Start with a situation or choose a printable you can keep close.

What Do I Say When… →Printables & tools →

New This Month

New topic hubs, communication responses, and practical tools

Choose a concern for a short list of next steps, open the free member printable library, or review changing support needs without trying to self-diagnose a stage.

Try Start HereOpen stage guideBrowse printables

Need urgent help?

For immediate danger or a missing person, call 911. Along the Way Care also has a simple urgent-help page with official crisis, medication, and dementia-support resources.

Open Need Help Now

Along the Way Care provides educational resources and is not a substitute for medical, legal, financial, or emergency advice.