Support Resources

The nurse advice line is our 24/7 health information line. No matter what time of day it is, you can always call our nurse advice line. When you call, you’ll speak to registered nurses who can give you advice on any health-related problem. This service is available to you at no cost!

They can help you:

• Find a doctor.
• Determine the best place to go for care – whether that be your doctor, the emergency room or somewhere else.
• Give advice on medical and mental health concerns.
• And more!

You can also save time by allowing our nurse line to help you determine the most appropriate level of care to meet your healthcare needs. You can contact the nurse advice line by calling 1-855-735-4398 (TTY: 711) and pressing "4" at the prompt." Hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.  After hours, on weekends and on federal holidays, you may be asked to leave a message. Your call will be returned within the next business day.

• Caregiving Glossary
• Alzheimer’s and Dementia
  • Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Center
  • You can find educational videos created by the UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program.
    • The videos cover Sundowning, wandering, bathing, repetition, hallucinations and refusal to take medications.
  • Alzheimers.gov has material about the diagnosis, training and support for caregivers.
  • The Family Caregiver Alliance put together a fact sheet to help caregivers understand behaviors typical of those living with dementia.
  • Home safety tips by the Alzheimer’s Association
• Coping with Challenging Behaviors
  • Family Caregivers Online - Behavior and Emotions of Aging
  • Family Caregiver Alliance - Behavior Management Strategies
• Legal topics to consider
  • Family Caregivers Online - Legal Issues
• End of Life
  • Family Caregivers Online - End of Life Issues
• Housing
  • Family Caregivers Online – Housing Options and Long Term Care

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  1-800-273-8255 (TTY: 711)
  
  
• Crisis Call Center
  Compassionate assistance to people in any type of crisis
  1-775-784-8090 or 1-800-273-8255 (TTY: 711)
  
  
• Friendship Line
  A crisis hotline and a warmline for non-urgent calls. This line provides support services such as:
  • Suicide prevention
  • Emotional support
  • Elder abuse prevention and therapy
  • Well-being checks
  • Grief support
  • Information and referrals for older adults or adults with disabilities 

1-800-971-0016 (TTY: 711)

• Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Support Line
  1-800-272-3900 (TTY: 711)
  
  
• 2-1-1 Program
  The 2-1-1 program is a free, private service to help find local resources, including:
  • Food and nutrition programs
  • Shelter and housing resources
  • Utilities support
  • Grief support
  • Disaster relief
  • Employment
  • Addiction prevention and rehabilitation programs
  • Reentry support for ex-offenders
  • Support groups
  • Safe help out of an abusive situation

Call 2-1-1 to speak with a service expert in your area.

• Caregiver Nation (caregivernation.org)
  • Caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias
• Smart Patients Caregiver Community
  • A partnership between Family Caregiver Alliance and Smart Patients to create an online community for individuals and their caregivers.
• Find a nearby support group by calling your local Area Agency on Aging or using the Eldercare Locator
• AARP Online Caregiver Community
• Alzheimer’s/Dementia Specific: ALZConnected^®
• Caregiver Action Network’s Care Community

Caring for someone is rarely easy and can take much of your time. To help care for a loved one, caregivers need to make time to care for themselves.

Keep in mind the tips below to help you take care of yourself:

• No one is perfect. You will make mistakes.
• Many emotions surface when you are caring for another.
• Depression is a common experience while caregiving.
  • Think you may be affected by caregiver depression? Depression - What it is and What it is Not
• Give yourself and your loved one honest expectations.
• Use the info and resources available to you.
• Know the skills needed to care for your loved one. Be honest about what you can and cannot do.
• Learn to say no.
• Take help from others.
• Be resilient.
• Know your own stress triggers.
• For successful coping:
  • Eat right
  • Exercise
  • Sleep

Helpful Fact Sheet: 
Taking Care of YOU: Self-Care for Family Caregivers

Nutrition Resources:
nutrition.gov

Other Resources:
Physical Activity
Exercise and Caregiving
Disease-Specific Nutrition
Mental and Emotional Health

AARP
aarp.org

Eldercare Locator
Eldercare.gov
1-800-677-1116 (TTY: 711)

Caregiver Action Network (CAN)
Caregiveraction.org

Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
POLST.org

Stroke
Stroke.org
1-800-STROKES (787-6537) (TTY: 711)

Brain Injury Association of America
BIAUSA.org

Serious Mental Illness
NAMI.org
1-800-950-NAMI (6264) (TTY: 711)

Medicare
Medicare.gov

Medicaid
Medicaid.gov

Disability
Disability.gov

U.S. Living Will Registry^®
uslivingwillregistry.com

MedlinePlus: End of Life Issues
Medlineplus.gov/endoflifeissues.html

Dementia/Alzheimer
ALZ.org
1-800-272-3900 (TTY: 711)

Family Caregiver Alliance
Caregiver.org
1-800-445-8106 (TTY: 711)

National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD)
Nasuad.org