Support Groups & Activities
ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA SERVICES OF MEMPHIS, INC.Alzheimer’s & Dementia Services of Memphis, Inc. provides monthly caregiver support groups at the centers. Call 901-372-4585 for specific dates, times and topics. Care for family members is provided free of charge during the meetings. Your family member needs NOT be enrolled in daily services to be cared for while you attend the support group.
Support Group Locations
Kennedy Park:
- Spousal Support: second Tuesday of each month, 3:00 – 4:00 pm
- Coping with Caring∗: third Tuesday of each month, 4:30-5:30 pm
- General Support Group: fourth Wednesday of each month, 4:30 pm -5:30 pm
Dorothy’s Place:
- Spouse Support: first Wednesday of each month, 9:30 – 10:30 am
- Coping with Caring∗: second Thursday of each month, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
- General Support Group: 3rd Thursday of each month, 4:30-5:30 pm
∗Education Topics such as Nutrition, Safety, Coping with Relatives, Veterans, Physical Therapy and Transferring, Caring for Caregiver, Hospice/end of life, Legal/Financial, Communication, Dementia Updates, Holidays. Call for current months topics.
Off-Site Support Groups:
- Yad L’Yad, 3rd Tuesday 7:00pm-8:00 pm,
Jewish Family Services, 6560 Poplar Memphis, TN 38138
Support groups are partuially funded by the Aging Commission of the Mid-South.
Why Join a Support Group
Because it can help you:
- Realize you are not alone
- Prevent isolation
- Network and share ideas, learn news about the latest advances in treatment of the disease, and find doctors who specialize in the field, etc.
- Gain a better perspective and have realistic expectations
- Set goals
- Reinforce efforts for positive action
- Improve communication skills
- Cope with and grieve losses
- Counter depression
- Make new friends
- Accept the need for help and support, both physical or emotional
- LAUGH!!
Roth, Sherry, CSW/LIAF,H1 June 1997, pg.5
Daily activities at Alzheimer’s & Dementia Services of Memphis, Inc. are specially designed to be appropriate for the functioning level of each “Friend”. Activities are characterized as “failure-free” because they are adapted and used in a way that will allow true success. The goal is to offer simplified activities in a safe environment. Activities reinforce a “Friend’s” self-esteem while relieving boredom and avoiding frustration.
These activities provide opportunities for “Friends” to maintain fine and gross motor coordination, physical fitness as well as cognitive functioning and sensory stimulation. Music is an integral part of the activity program. Music appreciation sessions are a mix of singing, dancing, and playing rhythm instruments. Other special happenings include field trips, intergenerational activities, pet therapy, and visits from outside entertainers.
Daily therapeutic activities at Alzheimer’s & Dementia Services of Memphis, Inc. offer activities in a safe environment, reinforcing self esteem while maintaining the capabilities each “Friend” presently has. Over 25 therapeutic activities emphasizes skills such as cognitive, fine motor, gross motor, communication, socialization and daily life tasks. Activities range from chair Tai Chi, trivia, Bingo, Jingo, music, art, arts & crafts, conversations, dancing, special performances brought by Creative Aging of the Mid-South. Other activities include:
- art therapy with Dixon Gallery
- field trips to Brooks Museum for art therapy
- special therapies with a registered music therapist
- Music & Memory helps friends as they listen to their own individualized comfort music
- celebrating all holidays and birthdays