Dementia Resources
Dementia can be overwhelming, but please know – you’re not alone on this journey. Our resources page is organized by dementia and resource type to make it easier to find the support you need. So, take your time, explore the articles, and reach out to the support networks available to help make your journey through dementia a little bit easier.
Whether you’re a Caregiver, a Loved One, or someone living with dementia, we’ve got you covered. Our resources are designed to be informative and practical. You’ll discover articles that explain the different types of dementia, their symptoms, and how to provide care and support.
Please note: any links to Amazon are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Blog Posts on Dementia
View all of our blog posts on dementia here.
Dementia Therapies
Music Therapy
I’m a board-certified music therapist, a certified dementia practitioner, and a certified Montessori dementia care professional. I’ve been dedicated to dementia care since 2007.
I founded Harmony in Dementia to share my passion and expertise. I offer both group and individual music therapy services, and also provide music consultation and engaging workshops for older adults, caregivers, professionals, and students.
I’m deeply committed to extensive training and have a profound understanding of caring for people living with dementia and cognitive decline. I love collaborating closely with caregivers, sharing the transformative power of music, and co-creating meaningful experiences for the dementia community.
Besides hands-on work, I co-authored the book “Music, Memory, and Meaning: How to Effectively Use Music to Connect with Aging Loved Ones.” I also frequently speak on essential topics like music, dementia, and self-care. It’s incredibly rewarding to help others through these talks and workshops, making a real impact in the field.
General Dementia
Books
The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease and Other Dementias (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)
by Nancy L. Mace (Author), Peter V. Rabins (Author)
The ABC’s Of Dementia: A Reference Guide To Your Personal Dementia Waltz
by Tammy Thompson CDP
The Caregiver’s Guide to Dementia: Practical Advice for Caring for Yourself and Your Loved One
by Gail Weatherill
The Family Guide for Becoming Dementia Aware: Recognizing, Staging, and Providing Care for the Nine Most Common Dementias
by Tam Cummings PhD
The Itty Bitty Dementia Book
by Tam Cummings Ph.D.
A Heart Full of GEMS (Someone my child loves has dementia)
by Rev. Linn Possell
Living in the Moment: A Guide to Overcoming Challenges and Finding Moments of Joy in Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias
by Elizabeth Landsverk MD
Understanding the Changing Brain: A Positive Approach to Dementia Care
by Teepa Snow
When is Enough, Enough?: A Positive Approach to Finding Balance in a Caring Life
by Teepa Snow
Informative Resources
Dementia Care – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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 also an essential part of these services.
Dementia Society of America
Our all-volunteer Board of Directors and Advisory Council members use the power of technology and virtual offices to help us make a real-world difference. The Dementia Society of America® (DSA) is the nation’s leading volunteer-driven all-Dementias awareness organization. DSA provides an information hotline (1-800-DEMENTIA®), many online resources, and an easy-to-use, web-based locator, which can help families and individuals find valuable support near to them.
Do’s and Don’ts of Communication and Dementia
People living with dementia say and do normal things for someone with memory impairment. If they were deliberately trying to exasperate you, they would have a different diagnosis. Forgive them…always.
Lewy Body Dementia Resource Center
LBDRC’s mission is to raise much-needed awareness of LBD through the dissemination of information to health care professionals and the general public, while offering loving support and services to people with LBD and their care partners. By promoting these efforts, as well as early detection and diagnosis, we aim to help those living with LBD and their families find the quality support they desperately need while advocating for increased funding and research.
National Institute on Aging – Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Dementias
Learn how to respond to changes in communication and behavior, provide everyday care, and get help when needed.
Positive Approach to Care – Teepa Snow
This knowledge and skill will change your life. Positive Approach® enhances life and relationships of those living with brain change by fostering an inclusive global community. Positive Approach® to Care (PAC) provides a wide variety of services to enhance awareness and increase dementia care skills, including PAC Speakers, Trainers, Teepa Talks, and Certifications. We are now offering an array of virtual options, too! Click below to find the service that fits your needs.
Teepa Snow Dementia Brain Change Awareness Mini-Poster Set for Professional Caregivers and Staff in Senior Care Homes
Teepa Snow’s Dementia Care Companion Cards – A Discreet Communication Tool for Dementia Caregivers to Help Resolve Unexpected or Awkward Public Situations
Resources for Caregivers of People With Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
When a family member or loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, you may find yourself left with more questions than answers. These diseases change the way a person thinks and acts, and can be very challenging, especially for those in a caretaking role. Learning more about these diseases, what to expect, and what you can do can make a difference in a caregiver’s health and well-being — and the well-being of the person you’re caring for.
The federal government offers reliable resources on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and can connect you to important information about care and support. You can use the pages on this website and resources below to find more information from government sources. The information provided on these websites has been reviewed by experts in their fields. Health care providers, case managers, social workers, and nonprofit organizations may also be helpful.
Social Media
Debbie from Home Instead
A wonderful resource with lots of helpful short videos is this Instagram account by Debbie from Home Instead.
Fidget Toys, Books & Games For Dementia Patients
Books
Assistex Picture Book Set for Seniors with Dementia – Alzheimer’s Activity for Adults
Assistex picture books can be an extremely useful aid for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia. They help seniors reminisce, and spark conversation with relatives, Caregivers, & friends.
Toys
101 Puzzles, Games, and Activities for Seniors Volume 1:
Large Print, Fun, Easy Activities, Ideal for those with Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s, Memory Loss, and Aging Minds
Etsy Fidget Search
Has a huge variety of Fidget Blankets and other items.
Fidget Toys Fidgets Sensory Toys
Pop Its It Party Favors Fidget Toy Pack Bulk Box Stress Autism Autistic for Kids Children Boys Girls Adults Gifts Set Mini Carnival Treasure Classroom Prizes : Toys & Games
Fidget Puppy Muff and Blanket for Elderly
Fidget Blanket for Dementia | Dementia Products for Elderly | Gift and Activities for Seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia
Fidget Wrist Cuff Sensory Toys for Alzheimer Patients
Keeping Busy Expressions Brain Game for Older Adults with Dementia
Well-Known Sayings Card Game for Memory Loss – Adaptable to All Levels – Engaging Alzheimer’s and Dementia Activities for Seniors
The Keeping Busy Store
We are a small business dedicated to providing products that can make a difference to individuals with dementia. We don’t just sell products for people with dementia, We design, create, and use them.
Alzheimer’s Resources
Books
Alzheimer’s Through the Stages: A Caregiver’s Guide
by Mary Moller, MSW, CAS
Coach Broyles’ Playbook for Alzheimer’s Caregivers: Bonus Tips and Strategies Booklet
by Frank Broyles
Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey: A Guide for Families and Caregivers
by Jolene Brackey
Finding the Right Words: A Study of Literature, Grief, and the Brain
by Cindy Weinstein (Author), Bruce L. Miller
The Montessori Alzheimer’s Project: Bringing Montessori Insights to Dementia Care
by Lyle Weinstein (Author), Greg MacDonald (Author)
Informative Resources
AAD Imblance: Coping with Agitation and Aggression in Alzheimer’s Disease
An emerging hypothesis for a cause of Agitation in Alzheimer’s Dementia (AAD). Dysfunction in norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine (NSD) neurotransmitter systems may result in agitated behaviors in AAD. People with Alzheimer’s disease may become agitated or aggressive as the disease gets worse. Agitation means that a person is restless or worried. He or she doesn’t seem to be able to settle down. Agitation may cause pacing, sleeplessness, or aggression, which is when a person lashes out verbally or tries to hit or hurt someone.
Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. The Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900) is available around the clock, 365 days a year. Through this free service, specialists and master’s-level clinicians offer confidential support and information to people living with dementia, Caregivers, families and the public.
24/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900 – if you need immediate assistance
AlzAnxiety and Agitation A person with Alzheimer’s may feel anxious or agitated. He or she may become restless, causing a need to move around or pace, or become upset in certain places or when focused on specific details.
National Institute on Aging – Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Dementias
Learn how to respond to changes in communication and behavior, provide everyday care, and get help when needed.
Resources for Caregivers of People With Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
When a family member or Loved One has Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, you may find yourself left with more questions than answers. These diseases change the way a person thinks and acts, and can be very challenging, especially for those in a caretaking role. Learning more about these diseases, what to expect, and what you can do can make a difference in a Caregiver’s health and well-being — and the well-being of the person you’re caring for.
The federal government offers reliable resources on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and can connect you to important information about care and support. You can use the pages on this website and resources below to find more information from government sources. The information provided on these websites has been reviewed by experts in their fields. Health care providers, case managers, social workers, and nonprofit organizations may also be helpful.
Frontotemporal Dementia
Books
Frontotemporal Dementia
by NetCE (Author), Lauren Evans (Author), Ellen Steinbart (Author)
Frontotemporal Disorders: Information for Patients, Families, and Caregivers
by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Author)
The Struggle of Living with Frontotemporal Dementia: Carol Miller recalls her journey with Ira and FTD
by Carol Miller (Author), Ron Perrott (Author)
When Love Meets Dementia: Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) and the Family (McFarland Health Topics)
by Ada Anbar (Author), Elaine A. Moore (Editor)
Informative Resources
Frontotemporal Dementia Caregiving Support – FTD Caregiving
It is our mission to support those caring for someone suffering from a frontotemporal dementia by providing practical information and knowledge helpful in managing the day-to-day challenges encountered with the disease.
Healthline Article: Understanding the Stages of Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia affects the part of the brain that controls your behavior, decision-making, and personality. It’s a progressive condition that has distinct stages.
Mayo Clinic Website
Mayo Clinic is the largest integrated, not-for-profit medical group practice in the world. We’re building the future, one where the best possible care is available to everyone — and more people can heal at home. Our relentless research turns into earlier diagnoses and new cures. That’s how we inspire hope in those who need it most.
Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)
Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is characterized predominantly by the gradual loss of the ability to speak, read, write, and understand what others are saying.
Videos
Watch CBS’s 60 Minutes: “The Cruelest Disease You’ve Never Heard Of: Frontotemporal Dementia”
Bill Whitaker reports on FTD, a devastating illness and the most common form of dementia for Americans under the age of 60.
Lewy Body Dementia
Books
A Caregiver’s Guide to Lewy Body Dementia
by Helen Buell Whitworth MS BSN and James Whitworth
Grandpa & Lewy : A story of hope and empowerment for children touched by Lewy Body Dementia
by Jennifer Randazzo (Author), Tracey Arvidson (Illustrator)
Lewy Body Dementia: Information for Patients, Families, and Professionals
by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Informative Resources
HelpGuide.org – Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)
Dementia with Lewy bodies shares characteristics with both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Here’s how to recognize the signs and symptoms and get the treatment you need.
Lewy Body Dementia
Through outreach, education and research, we support those affected by Lewy body dementia, their families and Caregivers. We are dedicated to raising awareness and promoting scientific advances.
Lewy Body Dementia Resource Center
LBDRC’s mission is to raise much-needed awareness of LBD through the dissemination of information to health care professionals and the general public, while offering loving support and services to people with LBD and their care partners. By promoting these efforts, as well as early detection and diagnosis, we aim to help those living with LBD and their families find the quality support they desperately need while advocating for increased funding and research.
Lewy Body Dementia Resource Center – 5 Early Signs of Dementia
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) differs from other types of progressive dementia, and its symptoms can also mimic other diseases and disorders. LBD is most common in adults over the age of 50, so it’s important to be aware of the symptoms and watch for them as you or your Loved Ones age. Here, we share five early signs of LBD that every adult should be aware of.
The Lewy Body Society – Shining a Light on Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy body dementia is a complex and frequently misdiagnosed disease that affects memory, thinking, movement, sleep and behavior. No one should face it alone.
Podcasts
Lewy Body Roller Coaster Podcast
Welcome to our podcast about living on the Lewy Body Dementia roller coaster- a podcast for Lewy Body Dementia patients and their families presented by Lewy Body patients and their families.You will hear firsthand, the ups and downs and twists and turns of Lewy Body Dementia from families directly affected as we will share our support and experiences on all things Lewy Body.
Parkinson's Disease
Informative Resources
AARP: Parkinson’s Dementia: Signs, Symptoms and Hope for the Future
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment.
Alzheimer’s Society – Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
At the Alzheimer’s Society we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. We do this by giving help to those living with dementia today, and providing hope for the future.
Health Central – The Stages of Parkinson’s Dementia
At HealthCentral, our goal is to help you create your healthiest life, whatever that means in this moment. Anchored at the intersection of science and community, we provide a perspective so often missing in health information: the warmth of a friend, the authority of trusted experts, and a clear-eyed understanding of the facts.
Healthline – Understanding Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
Healthline covers all facets of physical and mental health openly and objectively because we’re here for the whole person — for your whole life. And because people come to us with unique challenges, we listen closely and put empathy first across our organization. In everything from our personal perspectives to our commitment to inclusivity, you’ll see that we feel with you.
John Hopkins Website – Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia
The mission of Johns Hopkins Medicine is to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care.
Parkinson’s Disease and Cognitive Changes
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is known most for its associated movement (or motor) symptoms, such as tremor and slowed movement, but cognitive changes can also be among the common PD non-movement symptoms.
Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD) – diagnosed when a person living with PD experiences significant cognitive decline after a year or more of motor symptoms (most typically after many years of experiencing motor symptoms).
The Parkinson’s Foundation
The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson’s community.
Verywell Health: An Overview of Parkinson’s Dementia
Verywell Health is an award-winning resource for credible, fact-based, and up-to-date information you need to confidently make health choices for yourself and your Loved Ones. We are dedicated to empowering you with the best answers to your most pressing questions, from understanding infectious diseases to managing a new diagnosis and everything in between.
Vascular Dementia
Informative Resources
Alzheimers.gov: Vascular Dementia Information & Resources
Alzheimers.gov is the federal government portal to information and resources on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal disorders, and vascular dementia. Alzheimers.gov is managed by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS is the U.S. government’s principal agency for enhancing the health and well-being of all Americans.
Alzheimers.org: Types of Vascular Dementia
At Alzheimer’s Society we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. We do this by giving help to those living with dementia today, and providing hope for the future.
Being Patient: Alzheimer’s vs. Vascular Dementia: What’s the Difference?
Being Patient is an editorially independent news and community platform that aims to create clarity around complex health issues and be a trusted, accurate source of information for the people impacted by a disease. Launching Alzheimer’s in June 2017, we build single-subject platforms looking at health topics from the patient’s point of view.
Caregiver.org: Vascular Dementia (article)
The mission of Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) is to improve the quality of life for family Caregivers and the people who receive their care. By Deborah Cahn-Weiner, Ph.D., ABPP and Anneliese Radke, Psy.D.
Cleveland Clinic: Vascular Dementia
Cleveland Clinic was at the forefront of modern medicine when its founders opened it as a multi-specialty group practice in 1921. In its first century, Cleveland Clinic has introduced many medical firsts, opened facilities around the world and is proud to be ranked among the top hospitals in the country. Now, 100 years later, the vision of the founders remains Cleveland Clinic’s mission: caring for life, researching for health, and educating those who serve.
National Institute on Aging: Vascular Dementia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
NIA, one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. NIA is the primary Federal agency supporting and conducting Alzheimer’s disease research.
UCSF Memory & Aging Center: A Patient’s Guide to Vascular Dementia
The UCSF Memory and Aging Center is an NIA-designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) working to translate research science into improved diagnosis and care for people with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases, as well as to find a treatment or prevention.