Educational resources for you and your family

When someone you love is diagnosed with dementia, you may have many questions and uncertainties. That is normal and you are not alone. Many websites and organizations have information for family members about dementia, how to care for someone with dementia, and how to care for yourself too.

Whether you are living with dementia or helping someone who is, these resources offer free tools, tips, and support. Most of the resources in this article focus on Alzheimer's disease, because it is the most common form of dementia. Many of the same tips apply to other types, too. We also share where to find information for other forms of dementia. No matter the diagnosis, the goal is clear information and practical help.

Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer's Association is one of the most trusted places to learn about dementia. They offer help for both caregivers and people living with Alzheimer’s disease.

For caregivers

• 24/7 helpline: Call 800-272-3900 anytime, in over 200 languages.
• Safety tips: Learn how to prevent wandering and keep your home safe.
• Connect with others: Join online groups through ALZConnected or find in-person support groups. You can also find local chapters near you.
• Blog: Read real stories and tips from others going through the same thing.

For people living with dementia

• Understand your diagnosis: Find out what it means and how to talk about it.
• Take care of yourself: Get tips for staying healthy in body, mind, and spirit.
• Coping tools: Learn how to deal with everyday challenges.
• Treatments & research: Learn about current and new medications. Understand what it means to join a clinical trial.
• Make a care plan: Build a team to help you now and in the future.

They also have a free workbook called Taking Action that helps you learn more and plan for what’s ahead. Get the workbook here.

You can also use the Alzheimer’s Association & AARP Community Resource Finder to look up local support, care options, and services.

Free online courses

You can make a free account on alz.org to take classes like:

• 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s
• Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia
• Dementia Conversations (about doctor visits, driving, and legal planning)
• Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior
• Living with Alzheimer’s for Caregivers (with tips for early, middle, and late stages)

Alzheimers.gov

Alzheimers.gov is a U.S. government website, managed by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), with tips for people living with dementia and their care partners/families.

What you’ll find

• Care tips: Help with eating, bathing, dressing, and more.
• Advance care planning: Learn about legal and medical choices you may need to make.
• Research: See how to join studies to help find better ways to prevent, treat, and care for dementia.
• Email updates: Sign up to get free news and tips by email.
• Guides and booklets: Download or print free information about dementia.
• ACL dementia fact sheet: Learn what the government is doing to support families.
• CDC caregiving info: Learn how to care for someone while taking care of yourself.
• VA geriatrics & extended care: Info for veterans and their caregivers.
• NIA ADEAR center: Call 800-438-4380 or email adear@nia.nih.gov with your questions about dementia.

AARP

AARP has many helpful tools for caregivers and families.

• Dementia resource guide: Learn more about dementia, find local support, and connect with others.
• HomeFit guide: Tips to make your home safer and prevent falls.
• Prepare to care: A booklet with checklists and steps for giving care.
• Managing someone else’s money: Learn how to help manage money or find someone trustworthy to do it.

You can also call your state’s AARP office to find events about dementia, care partnering, and brain health near you.

Dementia Friendly America

The Dementia Friendly America organization is committed to fostering community support for people living with dementia and their essential care partners so they can safely remain and continue to engage in the community. There are many available resources on this site, including:

• DFA Community Toolkit: Helps foster the adoption of dementia friendly practices
• Sector guides: Helps people living with memory loss and their caregivers navigate different aspects of daily living, such as banking, airports, residential and specialty care, and community-based services
• Memory cafes: Places for people living with memory loss and their caregivers to connect with others experiencing similar challenges

Resources for other types of dementia

If you or your loved one has a type of dementia other than Alzheimer’s disease, these groups offer information and support made for that diagnosis.

• Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD): Learn about frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) and find support. Visit theaftd.org or call the HelpLine at 866-507-7222.
• Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA): Learn about Lewy body dementia and find support. Visit lbda.org or call the Lewy Line at 800-539-9767.

Noteworthy books

Books can be a calm and steady friend on the dementia journey. Reading a good book can help you understand what is happening and find comfort in other people’s experiences. Some books are written by people who have lived through similar challenges. Others are written for families and care partners to help you make sense of things.

Stories from real life

• On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s is a personal story about living with Alzheimer’s from the author’s point of view.
• Talking Sense: Living with Sensory Changes and Dementia is a thoughtful book by someone living with dementia, exploring how the senses change.
• Losing Clive to Younger Onset Dementia: One Family’s Story is written by Helen, Clive’s wife, about their family going through the diagnosis and what came after.

Books for families and care partners

• What You Really Want to Know About Life with Dementia answers common questions about living day to day.
• Why Dementia Makes Communication Difficult helps explain why talking and understanding can change.

Books for children and families

• The Memory Key is a child’s story about a grandparent living with dementia.
• My Grandma Has Dementia is a simple picture book that explains dementia in a caring way for young readers.
• Books by Brazilian writer Fernando Aguzzoli are written in Spanish and Portuguese and address dementia, death, and incurable diseases, highlighting the importance of including children in difficult conversations.

Brain health and personal growth

• Brain Health Action Plan by Teryn Clarke, MD, is a book about ways to support your brain and body as you age (not affiliated with Linus Health or its Brain Health Action Plan).
• And Still the Music Plays tells the story of people’s experiences of living with dementia in an empathetic way in the hope of breaking down the stigma of dementia.

Why these resources matter

When you or someone you care about is living with dementia, the right support can make a big difference. Good resources can help you understand what is happening and what to expect next.

These resources offer clear guidance and real support. They can help you learn about symptoms, plan for the future, and find services in your community. Many also connect you with other people who are going through similar experiences. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Use these resources to get started. Share them with friends and family so everyone can help. If you’re not sure where to start, even small steps, like reading a guide or calling a helpline, can help reduce stress. Every step brings you closer to the support you need.

References

AARP. AARP HomeFit Guide. AARP. https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/housing/info-2020/homefit-guide/. Accessed September 24, 2026.

AARP. Dementia resource guide: Digital edition. AARP. https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/dementia-resource-guide-digital-edition.html . Accessed September 24, 2026.

AARP. Prepare to Care: A planning guide for families. AARP. https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/prepare-to-care-planning-guide.html. Accessed September 24, 2026.

Aguzzoli, F. Who, Me? A Grandmother. A Grandson. A Life Lesson. Belas Letras Publishing, 2014.

(Aguzzoli, F. ¿Quién, yo? Una abuela. Un nieto. Una lección de vida. Editora Belas Letras. 2014.)

Alzheimer’s Association. Care and education resources. Alzheimer’s Association. https://www.alz.org/help-support/resources/care-education-resources. Accessed September 24, 2026.

Alzheimer’s Association. Taking Action: A Workbook for People with Memory Loss. Alzheimer’s Association. https://www.alz.org/getmedia/da9e2ce1-d73c-437a-be7c-d5761afd06e9/taking-action-workbook. Accessed September 24, 2026.

Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. AFTD HelpLine. https://www.theaftd.org/. Accessed September 24, 2026.

Baines N. The Memory Key. Hachette Children’s Group; 2024.

Beaumont H. Losing Clive to Younger Onset Dementia: One Family’s Story. Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 2009.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Caregivers of a person with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. https://www.cdc.gov/caregiving/about/index.html. Accessed September 24, 2026.

Clarke T. Brain Health Action Plan: Simple, Science-Backed Lifestyle Changes That Optimize Cognitive Fitness and Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk. Brain Health Action Plan Inc; 2024.

Dementia Friendly America. https://dfamerica.org/. Accessed September 24, 2026.

Harrison Dening K. What You Really Want to Know About Life with Dementia. Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 2022.

Houston A. Talking Sense: Living with Sensory Changes and Dementia. HammondCare; 2019.

Lewy Body Dementia Association. Lewy Line support services. https://lbda.org/lbda-lewy-line. Accessed September 24, 2026.

National Institute on Aging. About the ADEAR Center. https://www.nia.nih.gov/about/alzheimers-and-dementia/about-adear-center. Accessed September 24, 2026.

O’Brien G. On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s. Codfish Press; 2014.

Stokes G. And Still the Music Plays: Stories of People with Dementia. Hawker Publications; 2008.

U.S. Administration for Community Living. Long-term care (LongTermCare.gov). https://acl.gov/ltc. Accessed September 24, 2026.

U.S. Administration for Community Living. Support for people with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. https://acl.gov/programs/support-people-alzheimers-disease/support-people-dementia-including-alzheimers-disease. Accessed September 24, 2026.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Alzheimers.gov. https://www.alzheimers.gov/. Accessed September 24, 2026.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Dementia care (including Alzheimer’s disease). Geriatrics and Extended Care. https://www.va.gov/geriatrics/pages/alzheimers_and_dementia_care.asp. Accessed September 24, 2026.

Winstanley A. My Grandma Has Dementia. Independently published. 2021.

Wray A. Why Dementia Makes Communication Difficult: A Guide to Better Outcomes. Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 2021.