Section 4: Additional Considerations and Resources for Right Now

Here are some additional considerations and resources as you think about senior living community- versus home-based care:

• If your loved one has been resistant to spending their resources on care, you may need to consider that they do not recognize all of the help that they need. This is common in dementia, and you may need to be the one to decide how their resources can best be used to provide care.
• If you have been resistant to spending their resources on care, this is the time to have an honest conversation with yourself. You need to consider what would be best for both your loved one and for you, and this may involve paying for more services.
• If you have friends or family who cannot provide physical help, reach out and see if could help in other ways. For example, they can research and make a list of local community resources or long-term care options, or they can contact those services and supports directly to get more information for you.
• Do you have family members who are not pulling their weight in helping to support your loved one at home? If so, you may need to be more direct in asking them to participate in your loved one’s care. The Alzheimer's Association Helpline (800.272.3900) is staffed with care consultants who may be able to provide assistance in finding outside help to mediate potential family disagreements.

To get more help with any of these issues, you may want to join a support group. Caregiver support groups are offered both in-person and virtually. To find a support group, you can begin by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging (there are different agencies serving different parts of Connecticut) or the Alzheimer’s Association.