Recommended resources for learning and living well with memory loss.
Local Resources:
Comprehensive Resource Guide for Elders and their Families in Cass and Clay County – Hard copies of the resource guide are available through Memory Cafe of the Red River Valley. Website: http://www.CassClaySeniorResources.com; Email:cspeguide@gmail.com
Southeast Human Service Center (SEHSC) Phone – 701-298-4500 or 1-855-462-5465. Address – 2624 9th Ave S. Fargo, ND 24 hour crisis line – 701-298-4500. Suicide Prevention: 1-800-TALK (8255). Address – 2624 9th Ave South, Fargo, ND.
Aging and Disability Resource LINK (www.carechoice.nd.gov) – An online database of services and providers in North Dakota.
Family Caregiver Support Program – Provides free respite care for limited number of hours/week. Respite Care coordinator – Suzi Effertz, Aging Services Program Administrator 701-298-4420 Email: seffertz@nd.gov Website: https://www.nd.gov/…/fact-sheet-family-caregiver-support-program.pdf
Additional Aging Services from SEHSC (some available on sliding fee scale or free) include:
- Home and community-based long-term care services paid for by Medicaid, Service Payments for the Elderly and Disabled (SPED), and the Expanded-SPED programs
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman program
- Older Americans Act services: assistive devices, senior meals, health screenings, elder legal assistance, options counseling, and Senior Companion program
- Senior Community Services Employment Program
- Telecommunications equipment distribution program
- Vulnerable Adult Protective Services
- Dementia care
Minnesota’s Senior LinkAge Line – A One Stop Shop for Minnesota Seniors. Phone – 1-800-333-2433; Veteran’s Linkage Line – 1-888-546-5838; Website: www.MinnesotaHelp.info
Senior Connections – Social, education, recreation program for MN seniors over the age of 55 years old. Noon meal. Hjemkomst Center, Moorhead. Julie Marxen, Program Coordinator. Email:julie.marxen@ci.moorhead.mn.us. Phone – 218-299-5514
Valley Senior Services (North Dakota residents) – Resource specialists, community dining program, Meals-On-Wheels, Nutrition program, transportations services. Phone – 701-293-1440; Website – http://www.valleyseniorsservices.org; email: info@valleyseniorservices.org
Dementia Care Services Program – Alzheimer’s Association – Care consultation for individuals and families, education, 24/7 Helpline – 800-272-3900, MedicAlert+Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return, support groups. Website: www.alz.org/mnnd
Lutheran Social Services (North Dakota)– Senior companions, Volunteer Companions, Aging Life Care Management, Volunteer Connections. Address-3911 20th Ave S. Fargo, ND; Phone –701-235-7341 Website – http://www.lssnd.org
Lutheran Social Services (Moorhead, Minnesota)-Caregiver Classes and Morning Out Respite Program; contact Laura Rasmussen at Phone: 651-347-2590 or 1-800-488-4146 or email: Laura.Rasmussen@lssmn.org
NDAD – North Dakota Association for the Disabled. North Dakota residents. Direct Financial Assistance program for wide variety of uses including prescriptions, medical equipment, out-of-town medical travel expenses, home and vehicle accessibility, personal attendant care expenses, in-town accessible transportation fees, adaptive recreational activities; Healthcare equipment loan program; financial loan program for assistive devises; information and referral services; advocacy; community fundraising projects. Address: 21 University Dr. N. Fargo; Phone – 701-281-8215 or 888-363-6323; Website: http://www.fargo@ndad.org
Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing – Adult Outreach Services – (ND residents only). Program Coordinator – Pam Smith Phone – 701-665-4401; Website: http://www.nd.gov/ndsd/; Email: pam.smith@k12.nd.us
Veteran Administration Services – Cass County Veterans Service Officer – 701-241-5745; Clay County Veterans Service Officer – 218-299-5041
Medicaid/QSP Services – See Comprehensive Resource Guide (listed above)
AARP – Wide range of supportive services and aging resources. Website: https://www.aarp.org
Resources for Advance Care Planning
- Sanford Health 701-234-6980
- Essentia Health 888-993-4274
- HRRV Compass Program 701-356-1500
Advance directive for dementia
https://dementia-directive.org
Aging and Senior Care Resources for Communities in North Dakota
https://www.caring.com/senior-living/assisted-living/north-dakota
Books:
“Creating Moments of Joy” – Jolene Brackey
“What The Hell Happened To My Brain? Living Beyond Dementia” – Kate Swaffer
“My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver” by Martin J. Schreiber
“Dancing with Dementia: My Story of Living Positively with Dementia” by Christine Bryden
“Dementia Beyond Disease: Enhancing Well-Being” by G. Allen Power, M.D.
“Defeating Dementia: My Story of Recovery from Alzheimer’s” -Francis C. McNear
“Love, Loss, and Laughter, Seeing Alzheimer’s Differently” – Cathy Greenblat, PhD
“A Pocket Guide for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver” – Daniel Potts, MD, Ellen Woodward Potts
“Rethinking Alzheimer’s Care” – Sam Fazio, Dorothy Seman, Jane Stansell
“Grandpa and Lucy, A Story About Love and Dementia” (children’s book) — Edie Weinstein
“The Four Things That Matter Most, A Book About Living” – Ira Byock, MD
“Being Mortal, Medicine and What Matters in the End” – Atul Gawande
“Alzheimer’s from the Inside Out” – Richard Taylor PhD
“Love, Life, Loss – A Roller Coaster of Poetry” Volume 2: Days with Dementia” – Kate Swaffer
“Diagnosed with Alzheimers or Other Dementia: What’s Next?” – Kate Swaffer and Lee-Fay Low
“The Gift of Years, Growing Older Gracefully” – Joan Chittister
Articles:
NY Times: “Dementia May Never Improve, but Many Patients Can Still Learn.”
New Scientist: “We may finally know what causes Alzheimer’s- and how to stop it.”
Websites and links:
Jayne Clairmont
Jayne Clairmont is a nationally recognized leader and consultant in providing care for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Clairmont is the President and CEO of English Rose Suites, a proven and successful residential model for memory care, located in Minneapolis, MN and b⬧home Home Care. Clairmont is an exceptional caregiver and inspiring teacher who brings her passion for changing the landscape of memory care into her consulting services. Her ability to share her expertise and real life experience in caring for people living with dementia is inspiring and transformational. Clairmont is a featured speaker at state and national conferences on a variety of aging topics.
What to look for in quality care facilities
Erin Bonnito
“Erin Bonitto is a sought-after speaker, educator and dementia communication coach. The founder of Gemini Consulting, Erin is renowned as the innovator of Life Enrichment Systems for Dementia, a dementia education, programming and skill coaching framework.” (gemini-consulting.org)
Senior Moments vs. Memory Loss
How Memory Changes with Dementia
Jolene Brackey
“Author and nationwide speaker, Jolene Brackey, will help you through the everyday battles of Alzheimer’s with practical wisdom, encouragement, and humor.” (enhanced moments.com)
Creating Moments of Joy Preview
Jolene’s website
https://www.enhancedmoments.com
Kate Swaffer
“My site kateswaffer.com is committed to meaningful dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders about the critical issues impacting a person living with a diagnosis of dementia and their families and close friends. For those new to this site, I live with a younger onset dementia, diagnosed at the age of 49.” (kateswaffer.com)
The Power of Language
Kate’s website
https://kateswaffer.com
Kate’s Organization: Dementia Alliance International
https://www.dementiaallianceinternational.org
Webinar: “Rehabilitation for dementia: evidence and opportunities”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKXABoNPeEo
Dementia Action Alliance: Words Matter
Dale Bredesen, M.D.
“An internationally-recognized expert in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, Dr. Dale Bredesen’s career has been guided by a simple idea: that Alzheimer’s as we know it is not just preventable, but reversible. Thanks to a dedicated pursuit of finding the science that makes this a reality, his idea has placed Dr. Bredesen at the vanguard of neurological research, and led to the discoveries that today underlie the ReCode Report.” (ahnphealth.com)
Dr. Bredesen’s website
https://www.ahnphealth.com/dr-bredesen.html
An “Alzheimer’s Diet”: How to Implement the Bredesen Protocol
https://www.whitneyerd.com/2018/03/alzheimers-diet-bredesen-protocol.html?fbclid=IwAR2Sr0tGmQviCYfhyrl5k1tPmP0XkKhwhA-gyy7ZX6KjkaYkf-SFKcUHjUU
Lori La Bey- Alzheimer’s Speaks
“Lori La Bey is a passionate and inspiring keynote speaker and the founder of Alzheimer’s Speaks, a Minnesota based advocacy group and media outlet making an international impact by providing education and supportfor those dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia’s. Her own mother struggled with dementia for over 30 years. Her radio show is also believed to be the first program dedicated to dementia in the world,along with the first webinar series called, “Dementia ChatsTM,” whose experts are those diagnosed with the disease.” (alzheimersspeaks.com)
Person-centered Alzheimer’s Care
Lori’s Website: Alzheimer’s Speaks
https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/purple-angel-project
Teepa Snow – Positive Approach to Care (PAC)
Teepa and her PAC team strive to teach practical skills to care partners in order to provide more individualized care for those living with dementia. Many excellent videos available free on her website or on YouTube.
Teepa’s Website:
https://teepasnow.com
Alzheimer’s Association
www.https://alz.org
Glen Campbell’s wife’s website
Dementia Products/Games/Activities/Supplies:
Aromatherapy Training and Consultation Services (Certified) – Jodi Baglien. Website: www.JodiBaglien.com Phone – 612-802-9483 (Osseo, MN)
Home Safety Checklist:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/home-safety-checklist-alzheimers-disease
https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/safety/home-safety
