Practical resources to help you navigate the caregiving journey.
Online Resources
The Heart of the Caregiver
Birthed out of the personal caregiving experiences of Mary Tuttelow, The Heart of the Caregiver is more than just a website with caregiving resources. It’s also a source of connection to online support groups as well as curriculum for caregiver support groups.
Alzheimer’s Association
Alz.org provides many helpful online resources for caregivers as well as links to community support groups and local resources and organizations serving individuals and families walking through Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers
Founded by former first lady, Rosalynn Carter, The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers “was created grounded in the philosophy that it is crucial to prioritize family caregivers beyond the specific issue or health condition of those in their care.” RCI provides many useful resources for caregivers, as well as lobbying work for representation in government policy and employer benefits.
Journal of Sacred Work
The Journal of Sacred Work is based on the writings and meditations of Erie Chapman, which is offered to provide “health news, opinion & inspiration for radical loving caregivers”. Daily meditations and reflections provide insights and encouragement from other caregivers and caregiving experts.
Belightcare Consulting
Adria Thompson is the founder of Belightcare Consulting - a Speech Language Pathologist who is dedicated to improving the lives of people with dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases by teaching practical, evidence-based dementia strategies. Adria’s Instagram feed is full of quick, practical helps - a must subscribe for caregivers!
Books and Journals
Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia
John Dunlop, MD
From christianbook.com: “A diagnosis of dementia in a loved one can be both frightening and frustrating. Only a biblical foundation fuels a Christian response that both honors the patient and glorifies God. Drawing on years of professional experience working with Alzheimer's patients, Dr. John Dunlop wants to transform the way we think about dementia.
A Spirituality of Caregiving
"Caregiving is … about forming a relationship with another whom we might never have chosen to know. It is about doing all we do practically with the intention of growing into a relationship of respect, listening, presence, and truthfulness," Henri Nouwen writes.
The Caregiver Meditations
Reflections on Loving Presence
"The art of living is exactly that—an art. It requires attention, education, and most of all, exquisite presence. Don’t let the the news on television interfere with your attention to the news of your own life. We each have the chance to remember this very day by how we live it and what we choose to remember in our writing. The way we live this day can enrich the lives of others and ourselves and provide nourishment for our days and nights." Erie Chapman.
Community Resources
While the following may be location-based community resources, they are good sources of general education on seniorcare, caregiving in general, and navigating caregiving decisions and resources.
AgeWell Middle Tennessee is a non-profit community partner that addresses the unmet needs of older adults and caregivers through education, resource navigation, and by being a catalyst for comprehensive solutions. Older adults, caregivers and professionals throughout Middle Tennessee rely on AgeWell’s Directory of Services for updated information on community resources. ( * quoted from Vanderbilt University Medical Center)
Insight Memory Care Center of Fairfax, Virginia, while a memory care facility and community center in Fairfax, offers educational blog entries on memorycare, dementia, Alzheimers, and other eldercare related topics and concerns. One of these helpful resources is a free on demand, online training called Caregiver Training (“Caring for you - Mind, Body, Soul”)
The Resource Center on Aging is a ministry out of Harpeth Hills Church of Christ that seeks to enhance the aging experience by helping older adults find meaning and purpose in their lives. Through support groups and Wellness 66 education seminars, the Resource Center on Aging serves caregivers and older adults alike.
“…rendering care teaches the ability to be creative and to improvise. There are no cookbook approaches to handling all the situations that arise when caring for a person with dementia. Thinking creatively can be a spiritual experience when it is done by listening to God’s Spirit as he prompts us to think out of the box in new and fresh ways.”
— JOHN DUNLOP, MD. Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia
