Care Partner Resources

VIRTUAL EVENTS FOR CAREGIVERS | Wisconsin Family Caregiver Support Program (wisconsincaregiver.org)

Caregiver Help – Caregiver Support – Virtual Speaker Elaine K Sanchez

Home – Trualta

Dementia Careblazers

Homepage – Positive Approach to Care (teepasnow.com)

Alzheimer’s Association Helpline: 800-272-3900

The Alzheimer’s Association staffs a nationwide 24/7 helpline for individuals with dementia, family members, caregivers, and professionals to call whenever they need.

Compassion Fatigue: the stress of caring to much. – YouTube

Compassion Fatigue – YouTube

Caregiver Support Groups

Local caregiver support groups in Dresser and Siren, WI. Call 877-485-2372 for details.

Dementia Family Education

The Alzheimer’s Association provides educational opportunities to family members and caregivers covering different topics related to dementia and caring for someone with dementia. Click here to find educational events in your area. There is also training available online. Click here to see a list of all available through the Alzheimer’s Association.

We partner with the Alzheimer’s Association to bring programs to our area. Please see the News and Events page for a list of upcoming events in our area.

Alzheimer’s Association Dementia and Driving

Click here to be directed to a portion of the Alzheimer’s Association website that addresses Dementia and Driving. When do you know it’s time for your loved one to stop driving and how do you initiate this difficult conversation with your loved one.

Lending Library

The ADRC provides access to educational resources for professional and family care partners of individuals living with dementia, as well as resources for children and teens.  We also offer self-care resources and materials; as lifestyle factors can reduce a person’s risk of developing dementia by up to 80% in some cases, and self-care is essential to ensure that we are able to provide care for others. Our lending library includes: guided-meditation media, exercise videos for seniors, cookbooks and meal planning tips, caregiving videos, aids for communication, and much, much, more. We have made it a goal of ours to have a variety of resources available for the members of our communities.

Please call our office to find out what materials are currently available and details about the lending library program. We also accept donations if you have educational materials (books,-DVDs, etc.) pertaining to caregiving that you are no longer using and that are of good quality. Please call the ADRC of NW WI at 877-485-2372 to find out how to donate or check out an item!

Alzheimer’s Association Green-Field Library: The Green-Field Library, located at the home office of the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, Illinois, is the nation’s oldest and foremost library and resource center devoted to increasing knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Crisis Helplines

Helplines are available for individuals with dementia in crisis and their family caregivers needing emergency connection and help, outside of normal business hours.

  • Northwest Connections Crisis Line (serving Polk & Burnett Counties): 888-552-6642
  • Alzheimer’s Association Helpline: 800- 272-3900
  • Emergency Services: 9-1-1

Ongoing programs offered by the ADRC:

DICE

The DICE Approach is a program provided at the ADRC of Northwest Wisconsin that guides caregivers through a process that helps them better understand and identify the underlying causes of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. It provides the tools to manage these symptoms by dealing with the underlying problem, using evidence-based behavioral and environmental strategies, rather than relying solely on medication. Contact the ADRC to learn more about DICE at 877-485-2372.

Music and Memory

The ADRC of Northwest Wisconsin now provides a program called Music and Memory.  Through this program, caregivers and individuals with dementia work with the Dementia  Care Specialist to create individualized playlists that include songs that bring back wonderful memories and feelings from the past. Beloved music: 

  • Help reduce depression and anxiety and can also moderate pain. 
  • Tap into deep memories and can improve quality of life. 
  • Creates joy and happiness and can help participants be more social and receptive to care and family visits. 
  • Helps reduce reliance on anti-psychotic, anti-depressants, and pain medications. 

Anyone can benefit from the power of listening to musical favorites, especially individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia who enjoy music. Participants receive one MP3 player, one set of headphones, and 2 personalized playlists. Contact the ADRC at 877-485-2372. 

Printable flyer. 

Dementia Live

The ADRC of Northwest Wisconsin is now an approved Dementia Live provider. Dementia Live is an interactive program that provides individuals the opportunity to experience what it is like to have dementia. This is a wonderful tool for community members, caregivers, family members, and professionals to utilize to gain a better understanding of what their loved one or the person they are working with is going through daily. Learn to communicate more effectively, become more aware of the sensory changes that occur with different types of dementia, and ultimately provide better care to your loved one. Because it’s frightening to care for someone you don’t understand. Coordinate a Dementia Live Experience/Training by calling the ADRC of Northwest Wisconsin at 877-485-2372.

Local Resources

Looking for a local agency that provides in-home help? Respite care? Personal emergency response systems? Find all of this, and more, in the Dementia Care Resources and Support Guide. This guide is constantly being updated and revised to provide the most up-to-date and relevant information possible. Check it out on our website in the right sidebar (visible on every page).