Dementia and Alzheimer's Help for Families

A free helpline answered around the clock, every day of the year, by trained staff who can talk through memory loss, a new diagnosis, behaviors, safety, care options, housing and caregiver stress. Help is available in more than 200 languages through bilingual staff or interpreters.

When to use it: Any time, day or night, when you are worried about a parent's memory or behavior, or feel stuck deciding what kind of care they need.

24 hours a day, 365 days a year; online chat typically Mon-Sat 7am-7pm CT

A free search tool for finding local dementia programs and senior services by ZIP code, including support groups, home care, adult day care, hospice, assisted living, memory care, nursing homes and dementia-savvy doctors.

When to use it: When you need a list of local care options and support groups near your parent to start calling.

Listings are not vetted or endorsed, so always check inspection records and visit before choosing a provider.

The federal government's plain-language hub on Alzheimer's and related dementias, run by the National Institute on Aging, with caregiving guides and free publications. Its ADEAR Center phone line answers questions and mails free materials.

When to use it: When you want trustworthy, non-commercial information about a dementia diagnosis, caregiving, or clinical trials.

A free government guide explaining assisted living, group homes, nursing homes and dementia care units, with what to look for and ask on visits. It also covers how to make the move easier and work with staff afterward.

When to use it: Before you tour memory care or nursing homes, so you know what to watch for and what to ask.

A checklist-style page of questions to ask memory care communities and nursing homes about dementia training, staffing, activities, meals, safety, family involvement, and discharge and end-of-life policies. It also recommends announced and unannounced visits, including at mealtimes.

When to use it: When you are comparing memory care or nursing home options and want to know what separates good care from poor care.

Ask specifically under what conditions a resident can be asked to leave, since dementia behaviors are a common reason for discharge.

24/7

A free helpline staffed by licensed social workers trained in dementia care, reachable by phone, text or web chat, with help available in over 90 languages through chat and text.

When to use it: When you want to talk through a dementia care problem with a social worker, including evenings and weekends.

9am-9pm ET, 7 days a week; text 646-586-5283

A support line for people with Lewy body dementia and their families, offering a listening ear, referrals to support groups, and help finding education and community resources for this often misunderstood dementia.

When to use it: When your parent has, or may have, Lewy body dementia, especially if hallucinations, movement problems or bad reactions to medications are part of the picture.

This is not a live or crisis line; for an emergency call 911 or 988.

Leave a message; calls returned within 3 business days

A helpline for families facing frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), a dementia that often starts younger and changes behavior, personality or language before memory. It connects families with information, support and resources.

When to use it: When a parent has, or may have, FTD and you need guidance that fits its unusual symptoms and younger age of onset.

The successor to MedicAlert + Safe Return: an ID bracelet or necklace backed by a 24/7 emergency response team that alerts police, spreads missing-person information, and reaches family when a person with dementia wanders or is found.

When to use it: As soon as a parent with dementia has gotten lost, tried to leave home, or still drives or walks alone.

If your parent goes missing, call 911 first, then activate Safe & Found.

Enrollment and questions Mon-Fri 6am-4:30pm PT; emergency response 24/7 via the number on the ID

A search-and-rescue program run by local sheriff, police and fire departments: the person wears a small radio transmitter so trained teams can locate them quickly if they wander. Families enroll through a participating local agency.

When to use it: When a parent with dementia is at real risk of wandering and you want local responders ready to find them fast.

Only available where a local public-safety agency participates, and costs or waitlists are set locally.

A national network of communities working to be more supportive of people living with dementia and their caregivers. Its directory shows local dementia-friendly efforts that may offer programs, training and support.

When to use it: When you want to find local dementia-friendly programs and activities that help your parent stay engaged in the community.

A directory of memory cafes: relaxed social gatherings where people living with dementia and their care partners can enjoy time together with others who understand.

When to use it: When your parent is isolated or you both need a low-pressure social outing with people in the same situation.

A Medicare program started in July 2024 that pays participating providers to give people with dementia a care team, 24/7 support line, care coordination, caregiver training and some respite care. It is for people with Original Medicare Parts A and B who are not in hospice, PACE, a long-term nursing home or (since July 2026) a memory care unit.

When to use it: Right after a dementia diagnosis, or any time you are caring for a parent with dementia at home and need a coordinated team and respite help.

Only available through participating providers (more than 300 programs as of 2026), so use the CMS map or participant list to see if one serves your parent's area; Medicare Advantage members are not eligible.