Patient Resources
One of the things that sets the Memory Center apart is the support we provide to both patients and families. Below is a list of resources that we hope you find helpful in preparing for the progression of dementia and developing positive coping strategies, as well as information on how to prepare for a patient's first visit.
Memory Center at Unity Program Brochure
Memory Center at Unity, New Patient Paperwork Form
Lifestyle and Activity Tips for Cognitive Health
To prepare for a patient’s first visit, they should bring:
- A family member or friend who knows the patient well and can share any concerns about a patient’s thinking or functional skills
- Records of any prior evaluation for memory problems, including the actual films (or CD) of any prior brain imaging (or ask their doctor to send these ahead of time)
- A completed new patient questionnaire
Caregiver Support and Education
If you’re caring for a person with dementia, it’s important that you receive information and support as the disease progresses. The Memory Center offers services that can help family members and caregivers to better handle the day-to-day care, changes in family dynamics, and decisions that need to be made about long-term care.
Caregiving Resources
- Memory Center Caregiver's Guide – a guide to help caregiver's better understand and support their loved ones, with helpful tips provided.
- Lifespan - a trusted source of unbiased information, guidance and more than 30 services and advocacy for older adults and caregivers.
- Eldersource – a program of Lifespan of Greater Rochester and Catholic Family Center which has immediate access to a wide array of supportive services for older adults.
- Finger Lakes Caregiver Institute - a partnership of Lifespan and the Alzheimer's Association that provides care navigation to individuals with dementia and/or caregivers.
- NYS Office of Aging – connects older adults and their caregivers with help and assistance that enables them to live, work, and age in their community.
Alzheimer’s Disease
- Alzheimer’s Association - Rochester and Finger Lakes Region - provides programs, services and advocacy to individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, and their families.
- National Institute on Aging - provides current, comprehensive Alzheimer's disease information and resources.
Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD)
(including frontotemporal dementia, primary progressive aphasia, corticobasal degeneration, and progressives supranuclear palsy)
- The Association for Frontotemporal Dementias – provides a variety of resources to help improve the quality of life of people affected by FTD.
- CurePSP – a leading source of information and support for patients and their families, as well as other caregivers, on prime of life neurodegenerative diseases.
Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease with Dementia
- Lewy Body Dementia Association - a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the Lewy body dementias (LBD), supporting people with LBD, their families and caregivers and promoting scientific advances.
- Parkinson’s Foundation – provides individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease, and their caregivers, with a variety of supportive resources that help maintain and improve their quality of life.
