Services & Information for Those with Dementia and Their Families, Friends & Caregivers
Living with Dementia can be challenging, both for the affected individual, as well as those around them. Below you'll find information about services, classes and resources that can help. We've organized the information into the five categories listed below. To learn more, you can simply scroll down the page, or click on your area of interest.
Dementia is not a specific disease or diagnosis. "Dementia" is an umbrella term that describes trouble with memory, thinking, reasoning, language, planning, and more. There are many types of dementia, but some of the most common include:
Alzheimer's Disease
Vascular Dementia
Lewy Body Dementia
Frontotemporal Dementia
Dementia vs. Normal Aging
What is "normal aging" and when should you be concerned? Because our brain ages along with the rest of our body, some changes can be expected. However, a brain disease, like a type of dementia, is not a normal part of aging.
The mission of the Dementia Care Specialist Program is to support people with dementia and their caregivers in order to ensure the highest quality of life possible while living at home. In order to accomplish this mission, the DCS has three main goals:
Ensure ADRC staff and volunteers are trained and competent about dementia so customers are met with understanding and support
Provide education and support to family members and friends who are caregivers
Help develop Dementia-Friendly Communities where people with dementia can remain active and safe, and caregivers can feel supported
This is done through phone calls, office visits, and even home visits if necessary.
Contact the ADRC to speak with our Dementia Care Specialists:
The ADRC Dementia Team helps connect you with a number of resources and activities related to dementia, including screenings, information on caregiving for those with dementia, support groups and more.
Memory Screening
We all experience some memory loss that comes with aging, but sometimes it's hard to know if what we're experiencing ourselves or in a loved one are typical, age-related changes -- or something more. Memory Screenings are a quick, non-invasive way to assess whether it may be time to talk with your doctor about your concerns. Memory Screenings are a FREE service offered by ADRC.
Call Us to Make an Appointment:
Calumet & Outagamie Counties: Traci at (920) 832-5178
Waupaca County: Andrea at (715) 258-6400
Caregiver Support & Dementia Care
Alzheimer's Family Caregiver Support Program (AFCSP)
This is a program that can provide respite to a caregiver caring for an individual who has Alzheimer's or Dementia. This program can fund things like home care, personal emergency response systems, transportation, adult day care, and more. To learn more, visit The Alzheimer's Family and Caregiver Support Program website. Call the ADRC at 877-739-2372 to be assessed for this program and learn more.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational program designed for caregivers to help them reduce stress, locate resources, improve self-confidence, communicate feelings, and increase ability to make tough decisions. This is a 90 minute class that meets weekly for six (6) weeks. To learn more, visit Powerful Tools for Caregivers
Purple Angel
This organization offers free community training for businesses and organizations to increase knowledge, reduce stigma, and provide tools to meet the needs of people with dementia and their caregivers. This training helps businesses create a space where people can stay connected to familiar places and stay engaged in their community. To learn more, call Andrea at (715) 258-6400. Visit
Purple Angel Trained Businesses and Organizations to learn more and find Purple Angel-trained organizations/businesses near you.
Dementia-Related Events, Memory Cafes, Support Groups & Classes
The ADRC Dementia Team helps connect you with a number of resources and activities related to dementia, including screenings, information on caregiving for those with dementia, support groups and more.
Events
‣ THE DEMENTIA JOURNEY: UNDERSTANDING CARE PARTNER GRIEF
Join us for an 8-week workshop to help caregivers gain insight and understanding into ambiguous loss, anticipatory grief and their own unique journey. There is limited seating for this no-cost workshop - please contact 920-560-7167 or susan.kazik@mosaicfamilyhealth.org for inquiries or to register!
DATES: Tuesday evenings, August 22-October 10, 2023 TIME: 4:00-5:30pm LOCATION: Mosaic Family Health, 229 S. Morrison St., Appleton, WI 54911 See our Workshop Flyer for more information (PDF)
Memory Cafés
The Memory Café is an opportunity for people with early- to mid-stage dementia and their caregivers, family and friends to enjoy socializing with others in a safe, stigma-free environment. There is no cost to participate, the settings are relaxed, and there is an experienced facilitator who leads the Cafés. Unless otherwise noted below, all Memory Cafés run from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. There are a number of Memory Café locations throughout Calumet, Outagamie and Waupaca Counties, as listed below (Memory Cafés are listed alphabetically by County, then City):
‣ CALUMET COUNTY
AriensCo Museum
3rd Tuesday of the month
109 Claumet St.
Brillion, WI 54110
Brillion Nature Center
1st Tuesday of the month
W1135 Deer View Rd,
Brillion, WI 54110
Chilton Ledge View Nature Center
2nd Tuesday of the month
W2348 Short Rd
Chilton, WI 53014
‣ OUTGAMIE COUNTY
Meade Street Bistro
1st & 3rd Thursday of the month
2729 N. Meade St.
Appleton, WI 54911
Thompson Center on Lourdes
2nd Wednesday of the month Time: 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
2331 E Lourdes Dr.
Appleton, WI 54915
Greenville Fox West YMCA
1st Wednesday of the month
W6931 School Road
Greenville, WI 54942
Heart of the Valley YMCA
2nd Thursday of the month
225 W. Kennedy Avenue
Kimberly, WI 54136
Kaukauna Public Library
2nd Monday of the month
111 Main Avenue
Kaukauna, WI 54130
Kimberly Library
4th Wednesday of the month
515 W Kimberly Avenue
Kimberly, WI 54136
New London Mosquito Hill Nature Center
2nd Wednesday of the month
N3880 Rogers Road
New London, WI 54961
‣ WAUPACA COUNTY
Neuschafer Community Library of Fremont
1st Monday of the month
317 Wolf River Drive
Fremont, WI 54940
New London Senior Center
4th Monday of the month
600 W Washington Street
New London, WI 54961
Sturm Memorial Library
2nd Thursday of the month
130 N. Bridge St.
Manawa, WI 54949
Waupaca Senior Center
2nd Monday of the month
407 School St.
Waupaca, WI 54981
Additional Memory Cafés may be added, or details can change since this web page was last updated. To see the most detailed and current information for Memory Cafés, please visit the Fox Valley Memory Project's Memory Café Calendar. (Scroll down the FVMP web page to see the calendar, and also a listing by County.)
Brillion Public Library
2nd Monday - 1:00 p.m.
326 N. Main St., Brillion, WI 54110
Caregiver Support Group
St. Paul Elder Services - Hoffman Memory Care Resource Center
3rd Tuesday - 4:00 p.m.
221 E. 13th Street, Kaukauna, WI 54130
Young Onset Spouse Group
St. Paul Elder Services - Hoffman Memory Care Resource Center
3rd Tuesday - 6:00 p.m.
221 E. 13th Street, Kaukauna, WI 54130
TLC Support Group-Fox Valley Memory Project
Goodwill Community Campus Building
1st Monday, 2nd Tuesday & 3rd Wednesday of the month - 1:00 p.m.
1800 Appleton Rd, Menasha, WI 54956
Waupaca Public Library
1st Tuesday - 1:00 p.m.
107 S. Main St., Waupaca, WI 54981
Additional area Support Groups and resources may be found by visiting the following websites:
Alzheimer's Association Support Groups (both in-person and virtual options). Visit www.alz.org/wi — Scroll down to the Resources section and click on the bullet point Support Group Opportunities.
For more information, call Andrea at (715) 258-6400 or Traci at (920) 832-5178.
Dementia-Related Classes
There are currently no classes being offered, but we will post them here when they are scheduled.
SPARK!
Spark! is a cultural program for individuals with early-to-mild-stage memory loss and their caregivers. The program welcomes caregivers to attend and is designed to help everyone actively engage in their community while experiencing art, culture, and nature in a comfortable environment with specially trained staff and volunteers.
Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass
165 N. Park Ave, Neenah
2nd Tuesday of each month at 10:30am
(920) 751-4658
You may also visit the museum's website for more information or to register
Trout Museum of Art
111 W. College Ave., Appleton in the Main Gallery
2nd Monday of each month at 1:00pm
Art Educator: Cristian Andersson
(920) 733-4089
You may also visit the museum's website for more information or to register
Book Club
For those caring for a loved one with memory loss. Open to all caregivers, professionals, and community members.
2nd & 4th Monday 10:00 a.m.
Hoffman Memory Care Resource Center- 221 E. Thirteenth St., Kaukauna
To Register, contact Traci at (920) 832-5178.
For more information on these programs, please contact our Dementia Care Specialists with the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Calumet, Outagamie & Waupaca Counties:
‣ THE DEMENTIA JOURNEY: UNDERSTANDING CARE PARTNER GRIEF
Site design by