FINDING AID IS A "SNAP"
The Alzheimer's Association and SNAPforSeniors make life easier for caregivers
BY:ERIC FEIL
The Alzheimer's Association and SNAPforSeniors have made life easier for Alzheimer's caregivers. That's because of their November 2007 launch of the first national dementia-specific senior-housing database—the Senior Housing Finder on www.alz.org. It's aim is simple: provide an easy way to find special-needs housing or outside-the-home care options.
"Many people don't know how to go about finding the information they need," says Peter Reed, PhD, senior director of programs with the Alzheimer's Association. "The process can be both very stressful and time-consuming."
Without leaving the comfort of home, this free web-based tool allows you to search for nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, residential care homes and other senior-housing options for people with dementia. "Our hope is that this tool will give families impacted by Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia the ability to more effectively plan for the future and anticipate what they may need," Reed says.
Once specific details—medical conditions, individual preferences regarding care services, security, diet, transportation, activities, location and more—are entered on the website, the database can help guide people toward the best care facility to suit a patient's particular needs. For those less web savvy, Reed notes, the Alzheimer's Association Helpline is available 24/7 by calling toll free (800) 272-3900. Workers there will help walk you through the web process or, with your responding to their questions, enter the data for you and mail you a printout of the customized results.
The Senior Housing Finder can screen facilities by the level of care provided, which is based on care for the seven stages of Alzheimer's disease progression as outlined by the Alzheimer's Association. "It's never too early to start planning," Reed adds. "Doing so early, when the patient can contribute to the decision-making process, can take much of the burden off everyone."