This is the Western Mass chapter of the national Alzheimer's Association. The office acts as an information and referral agency for support groups, reading materials, diagnostic services, and advocacy efforts. Support - support groups meet monthly at four different locations. Information and Referral - offered for family care givers, professionals and the general community. Respite - provided for family care givers by trained and supervised volunteers.
Service is provided through local nursing homes, rest homes and day care centers.
Linda Collina and Janice McGowan at the Longmeadow Senior Center are able to provide details on the availability of respite services, call 565-4150. The Safe Return Program is a national program which identified, and helps return to safety, people with Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders who wander away from their homes. Contact Alzheimer's Association of Western Mass at the above number or your local Council on Aging at 565-4150. CAPS develops support groups for care givers of the infirm elderly. Short term, problem focused crisis intervention is provided to assist elder to stabilize and maintain themselves in the community.