At the Y, we offer programs to support the overall health and well-being of our community. For older adults, especially those experiencing memory loss, our programs help establish fitness routines, build relationships, and create a network of friends.

Although social distancing practices may be keeping us further apart than usual, we're still here to help. We've gathered some local and national resources for caregivers of adults with memory loss. Use these resources to help your loved one stay fit and stay social, and help yourself with self-care too.

Webinars

• No one should face dementia alone. To better support the community, the Alzheimer's Association of Washington State's education programs are now online! Register today and learn from the comfort and safety of your own home. Each webinar is held live with time for Q&A. See a list of June webinars here.

Health & Hygiene

• As the Alzheimer's Association writes, "Most likely, dementia does not increase risk for COVID-19, just like dementia does not increase risk for flu. However, dementia-related behaviors, increased age and common health conditions that often accompany dementia may increase risk." Check out their thorough Tips for Dementia Caregivers for guidance on a variety of topics related to health.

• Reference this resource from the Alzheimer's Foundation of America: Coronavirus Prevention Tips for Alzheimer’s Family Caregivers.

• You can find prevention information for adults who are 65 years or older as well as other high risk individuals from the CDC.

Exercise & Fitness

• We recently launched the Healthy Living Room, your destination for on-demand exercise routines from 4 to 30 minutes long. Check out this playlist for Active Older Adults.

• You can also access a library of Active Older Adult exercises and other workouts for free from YMCA 360.

Social Activities

• See our recommendations for ways to stay connected while social distancing for simple, creative ideas to stay social.

• If you or the person you're caring for need help making or receiving video calls, check out our list of resources for popular programs like Zoom.

• Many organizations which support adults with memory loss recently launched virtual programs. Take a look at virtual programs recommended by our friends at Momentia as well as this calendar from the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. You'll find everything on these calendars from art classes to cooking classes.

Self-Care & Support

• Just because you are social distancing does not mean that you are alone. If you’d like to connect with a YMCA staff member for more ideas or support during COVID-19 you can contact our Care Coordination Specialist at 206-432-8904 or email ChronicDiseasePrevention@seattleymca.org.

• Families in Washington can use Care Connections from the Alzheimer's Association to receive ongoing support from trained staff. You can also contact their Helpline by calling 1-800-272-3900 or starting a chat on their website.

• You can read tips from other families who are navigating the caregiver journey in Support for Care Partners, published by  University of Washington Medicine. You can find even more resources on their Memory & Brain Wellness Center website.

Know that although we’re staying apart, we’re not alone. To quote our friends from the Old Friends Club, the world is resilient and so are we.

For more help, see our list of community resources and guide to mental health resources in Washington.