Coronavirus helpline open for families affected by Alzheimer’s

With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continuing to dramatically change and disrupt life for families living with Alzheimer’s disease, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is offering a helpline staffed entirely by licensed social workers who can answer questions in English, Spanish, Chinese, French and more than 90 other languages via live chat.

The helpline chat system can be accessed seven days a week by going to www.alzfdn.org and clicking on the blue-and-white chat box in the lower right-hand corner of the page.

“Language should not be a barrier to getting help,” said Charles J. Fuschillo Jr., AFA president and CEO. “Families of all different ethnicities and languages are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and the added challenges the coronavirus poses in caring for their loved ones. We want them to know there is a place to turn for help and answers to their questions. The helpline can be a great resource for professionals as well.”

The helpline can assist families with questions such as: How can I keep my loved one active and engaged while at home? Are there steps I can take to deal with the disruptions in the daily routine? What do I do if I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed? What steps can I take to reduce the chances of the person being exposed to coronavirus? What services are still available to help? How much should I share with my loved one about the pandemic? How can I stay connected with a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility that is no longer allowing outside visitors?

Individuals can connect with the chat system by going to www.alzfdn.org. They then click on the blue-and-white chat box in the lower right-hand corner and type questions in their native language. The translation feature recognizes foreign language text and instantly translates it for the helpline social worker. The social worker then types their response, which is instantly translated back to the user in the native language. The system is translatable for more than 90 languages.

The helpline is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.