Our experienced team is ready to talk through cognitive changes you may see in yourself or others.

When you or someone you care for experiences cognitive changes, even day-to-day life can be confusing, frustrating, and unsettling. By being here — on this site — you’re taking an important step forward; you’re one step closer to tapping into resources that can help you navigate this journey. Many of the resources listed here are free or covered by Medicare/insurance. Please reach out to us.

Individual Consultations

If you would like to talk to a member of the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center team, there are a number of options available.

1. Questions Consultation: Want to discuss questions about cognitive changes, the diagnostic process, care options, or how to manage changes? One of our social workers will talk with you on the phone, virtually, or in person. We provide this service to the community free of charge.
2. Chronic Care Management: As part of the KU ADRC, our Cognitive Care Network team works with physicians and patients, and offers a Medicare-covered service — Chronic Care Management, a service that provides regular monthly visits that:
   • Offer ongoing education
   • Explore opportunities and ways to proactively address challenges
   • Support patients, families, and caregivers as they learn new strategies
   • Participation in the Chronic Care Management service requires an initial visit with a provider in the KU ADRC Memory Care Clinic; that visit will initiate participation with the Cognitive Care Network.
3. Counseling: Whether you’re the one who has received the diagnosis or you’re caring for someone with MCI, Alzheimer’s disease, or dementia, it’s not unusual to experience adjustment issues, depression and/or anxiety. Licensed clinical social workers at the KU ADRC are available for one-on-one consultations. This is a Medicare/insurance-covered service.

Support Groups

Every life is unique. Still, it’s tremendously helpful to connect with people going through similar situations. Explore our support group programming.

Mindful Minutes

Mindful Minutes are presentations created specifically for those experiencing cognitive changes and their care partners.  The presentations are 15-20-minute recorded sessions designed to provide practical tips, advice, and support.  You may listen to as few or as many as you like, all at your own convenience. Click here to view recorded presentations.

Community Education

As a community resource, the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center offers a diverse selection of programs covering everything from brain health to caregiving strategies. Tap into our informed optimism! Find the educational event you need.

A Visual Guide to Mood and Behavioral Challenges

Each individual with a dementia brings their own history, personality, medical conditions, family, coping styles and many other issues that require attention, analysis, and commitment to supporting quality of life through the disease process. This visual guide offers a way to think through mood and behavioral challenges and potential directions to respond to them. It is des igned for those who care primarily for individuals who have moderate impairment.

MOOD AND BEHAVIORAL GUIDE

The Visual Guide to Mood and Behavioral Challenges is available on the Dementia CareAssist App, learn more about the CareAssist App.

Family Cooperative Toolkit

According to the Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures 2023, 70% of the total lifetime cost of caring for someone with dementia is borne by families.  These Facts and Figures also tell us that there are 312,000 Kansans and Missourians providing care for someone with a dementia.

We know caregivers need help, and that help can be costly.  Respite care is an out-of-pocket expense that many families do not have access to or cannot afford.  In response, the KU ARDC Cognitive Care Team has developed a Family Cooperative Toolkit.  The kit is designed to empower families by providing a self- guided, loose framework to foster creative caregiving strategies.

Family Cooperative toolkit

Take the next step

We encourage you to take full advantage of the wonderful resources available. Join MyAlliance!