The information below is intended to help you locate relevant health, medical and personal resources on Alzheimer's. The links below are the most current that we could locate for you. We hope you find them helpful in your search for information.
Ability Maine does not imply endorsement of the following sites, nor their content or products. Use of this information is intended only for educational purposes to prompt your search for accurate information pertaining to your personal issues around Alzheimer’s. Professional advice or consultation should be sought from a qualified, licensed practitioner when inquiring about medical services.
~Russell Anderson, Ability Maine
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Maine Alzheimer's Association The Mission of the Maine Alzheimer's Association is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research and to enhance care and support for individuals, their families and caregivers. http://www.alz.org/maine/ About Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. It is the most common form of dementia. A person with Alzheimer's disease suffers gradual memory loss, a decline in ability to perform routine tasks, impairment of judgment, personality change, loss of language skills and lowered resistance to infections and other illnesses. The affected family struggles with the physical, emotional and financial demands of caregiving. The causes of Alzheimer's disease are still unknown and there is no prevention or cure. Alzheimer's disease is terminal; it is the fourth leading killer of adults nationwide. An estimated 4 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease and nearly 30,000 Maine people are affected by Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_alzheimers_disease.asp Dementia Dementia is not a specific disease. It is a descriptive term for a collection of symptoms that can be caused by a number of disorders that affect the brain. People with dementia have significantly impaired intellectual functioning that interferes with normal activities and relationships. They also lose their ability to solve problems and maintain emotional control, and they may experience personality changes and behavioral problems, such as agitation, delusions, and hallucinations. While memory loss is a common symptom of dementia, memory loss by itself does not mean that a person has dementia. Doctors diagnose dementia only if two or more brain functions - such as memory, language skills, perception, or cognitive skills including reasoning and judgment - are significantly impaired without loss of consciousness. Source credit: "The Dementias: Hope Through Research," NINDS, 2004 http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/pubs/dementias.htm#Whatis Helpline Night or day, one phone call away…1-800-660-2871 Area Agencies on Aging Alzheimer's Care and Support
National Information ResourcesInformation Resources listed below are from:
NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient's medical history.
Office of Communications and Public Liaison National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD 20892 The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a component of the National Institutes of Health, is the leading federal supporter of research on brain and nervous system. The Institute also sponsors an active public information program and can answer questions about research related to the dementias. For information on other neurological disorders or research programs funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, contact the Institute's Brain Resources and Information Network (BRAIN) at: BRAIN P.O. Box 5801 Bethesda, MD 20824 (800) 352-9424 http://www.ninds.nih.gov Information is also available from the following Federal agencies: Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center (ADEAR) P.O. Box 8250 Silver Spring, MD 20907-8250 adear@alzheimers.org http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers Tel: 301-495-3311 800-438-4380 Fax: 301-495-3334 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) National Institutes of Health, DHHS 6001 Executive Blvd. Rm. 8184, MSC 9663 Bethesda, MD 20892-9663 nimhinfo@nih.gov http://www.nimh.nih.gov Tel: 301-443-4513/301-443-8431 (TTY) 866-615-NIMH (-6464) Fax: 301-443-4279 Private voluntary organizations that offer information and services to those affected by dementia include the following: Alzheimer's Association 225 North Michigan Avenue 17th Floor Chicago, IL 60601-7633 info@alz.org http://www.alz.org/index.asp Tel: 312-335-8700 800-272-3900 Fax: 312-335-1110 Alzheimer's Foundation of America 322 Eighth Avenue 6th Floor New York, NY 10001 info@alzfdn.org http://www.alzfdn.org Tel: 866-AFA-8484 (232-8484) Fax: 516-767-6864 National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 1968 (55 Kenosia Avenue) Danbury, CT 06813-1968 orphan@rarediseases.org http://www.rarediseases.org Tel: 203-744-0100 Voice Mail 800-999-NORD (6673) Fax: 203-798-2291 Federation of voluntary health organizations dedicated to helping people with rare "orphan" diseases and assisting the organizations that serve them. Committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare disorders through programs of education, advocacy, research, and service. Family Caregiver Alliance 690 Market Street Suite 600 San Francisco, CA 94104 info@caregiver.org http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/home.jsp Tel: 415-434-3388 800-445-8106 Fax: 415-434-3508 Supports and assists caregivers of brain-impaired adults through education, research, services, and advocacy. Information clearinghouse covers current medical, social, public policy, and care-giving issues related to brain impairments. C-Mac Informational Services/Caregiver News [For Alzheimer'sType Dementia Caregivers] 271 Cedar Lane East Meadow, NY 11554-2720 caregiver_cmi@hotmail.com http://www.caregivernews.org/pages/1/index.htm Tel: 516-481-6682 Fax: 516-486-7820 Publishes and distributes a free monthly newsletter relative to caregiving techniques, medical and legal issues, and community resources. Also offers an information pack for families of newly diagnosed patients. National Family Caregivers Association 10400 Connecticut Avenue Suite 500 Kensington, MD 20895-3944 info@nfcacares.org http://www.nfcacares.org Tel: 301-942-6430 800-896-3650 Fax: 301-942-2302 Grassroots organization dedicated to supporting and improving the lives of America's family caregivers. Created to educate, support, empower, and advocate for the millions of Americans who care for their ill, aged, or disabled loved ones. Well Spouse Foundation 63 West Main Street Suite H Freehold, NJ 07728 info@wellspouse.org http://www.wellspouse.org Tel: 800-838-0879 732-577-8899 Fax: 732-577-8644 International non-profit organization whose mission is to provide emotional support to, raise consciousness about, and advocate for the spouses/partners and children of the chronically ill and/or disabled. National Respite Network and Resource Center 800 Eastowne Drive Suite 105 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 http://chtop.org/ARCH.html Tel: 800-7-RELIEF (773-5433) 919-490-5577 Fax: 919-490-4905 Information and referral service that assists and promotes the development of quality respite and crisis care programs; helps families locate respite and crisis care services in their communities; and sponsors advocacy and awareness efforts concerning respite care. American Health Assistance Foundation 22512 Gateway Center Drive Clarksburg, MD 20871 info@ahaf.org http://www.ahaf.org Tel: 301-948-3244 800-437-AHAF (2423) Fax: 301-258-9454 Non-profit charitable organization dedicated to funding research and educating the public on Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, macular degeneration, heart disease, and stroke. Provides emergency financial assistance to Alzheimer's disease patients and their caregivers. National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization /Natl. Hospice Foundation 1700 Diagonal Road Suite 625 Alexandria, VA 22314 nhpco_info@nhpco.org http://www.nhpco.org Tel: 703-837-1500 Helpline: 800-658-8898 Fax: 703-837-1233 Non-profit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals. Provides free referrals to the public for hospice listings across the United States and internationally. Distributes free packets of general information describing hospice services and the Medicare Hospice Benefit. Institute for the Study of Aging 767 Fifth Avenue Suite 4600 New York, NY 10153 hfillit@rslmgmt.com http://www.aging-institute.org Tel: 212-572-4086 Fax: 212-572-4094 Private foundation that facilitates the development and advancement of new therapies and interventions for cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease through funding of domestic and international research. |