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A page for family caregivers
Dementia Caregiver Resources
Read a chapter, listen to a conversation, watch a video, or reach out to a group.
Collected by Gina Bell from the workshops and people she trusts. Start with what feels most relevant today.
Caring for someone you love who is living with dementia can change the rhythm of your life. You might be learning how to respond to changes in memory or behavior, figuring out what to tell friends and family, or wondering how to ask for help when you’re used to being the person others depend on. Some days you may want practical information. Other days, it helps to hear from someone who understands what you’re going through.
I created this page for family members, friends, and others caring for someone with dementia. Whether you’re adjusting to a recent diagnosis or have been caregiving for years, start with what feels most relevant today. You might read a chapter, listen to a conversation, watch a video, or reach out to a support group.
Book
Before I Lose My Own Mind
Dr. Beverly Thorn
I’ve had the pleasure of leading several caregiver workshops with Dr. Beverly Thorn. I appreciate the warmth and honesty she brings to conversations about the complicated feelings that come with caregiving and how easy it can be to put your own needs aside.
Dr. Thorn writes about caring for her husband as his dementia progressed. Her book offers a personal account of how their relationship changed, the decisions they faced, and what life looked like for her afterward.
Audio and tools
Practical Tools and Guided Audio
Dr. Beverly Thorn
Dr. Thorn’s resource page includes links organized by chapter, recommended reading, and guided breathing and relaxation recordings. If you have only a few minutes, her five-minute guided breathing recording is a place to begin.
Podcast
Dementia Untangled
Banner Health
Clinicians and other experts talk through questions families face after a dementia diagnosis and share ideas for supporting someone as their needs change.
Podcast
Dementia Discussions
Barbara Hament
Barbara Hament speaks with family caregivers and professionals about the emotional and practical sides of dementia care. Episodes explore guilt, the limits of what one caregiver can do, and what hospice support can look like for families.
Video series
UCLA Health Dementia Caregiver Training Videos
UCLA Health
Seeing how someone handles a difficult moment can make it easier to imagine what you might try at home. UCLA Health’s video series demonstrates ways to respond to common dementia-related behaviors. Videos are available in English and Spanish, with subtitles in several additional languages.
Support groups
Friendship Center
Santa Barbara Area
If you’d like to talk with people who understand the day-to-day realities of caregiving, Friendship Center offers in-person and virtual caregiver support groups. Its Dementia Resource Hub also lists workshops and care consultations. Check the hub for the current schedule and sign-up information.
Peer counseling
Center for Successful Aging
Greater Santa Barbara
If you’re facing isolation, loss, illness, or a major life change, it can help to talk with someone who understands. The Center for Successful Aging offers confidential peer counseling for adults ages 50 and older. Trained volunteer peer counselors offer emotional support and can help you find local resources. For information about programs and how to get started, call 805-898-8080.
Hospice and grief support
VNA Health Hospice Care
Santa Barbara County
If you’re caring for someone with advanced dementia or another serious illness and wondering what hospice could offer, VNA Health can help you understand your options. Its hospice team focuses on comfort and symptom relief and offers emotional and spiritual support for patients and their families. VNA Health also provides grief counseling and bereavement support groups.
To speak with a hospice care manager, call 805-965-5555.
Helpline
Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline
National
If you have questions about dementia, need help finding local services, or would like to talk through a difficult caregiving situation, call 800-272-3900. The helpline is free and available day or night.