Receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging. You may not know what to expect or what to do next. The steps below can help you get started.

Learn about Alzheimer’s disease

Being informed will help you know what to expect as the disease progresses. Here are some resources:

• Alzheimer’s and related Dementias Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center
  800-438-4380
• Alzheimers.gov
• Alzheimer’s Association
  800-272-3900
• Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
  866-232-8484

Local hospitals and community centers may have educational programs about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Get regular medical care

• Talk with your doctor about what to expect, what treatment options may be available, and what decisions you need to make.
• Attend appointments with your primary care doctor and any recommended specialists.
• Ask your doctor for a referral to a memory disorders clinic.

Find local services and support

• Find local services by visiting the Eldercare Locator online or calling 800-677-1116.
• Find local organizations and support groups through the Alzheimer’s Association or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
• Contact an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center near you.

Make legal, financial, and long-term care plans

• Get information to help you plan for the future.
• Prepare or update your will, living will, health care power of attorney, and financial power of attorney. If you want to consult a lawyer, contact your local bar association or the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
• Learn about how to manage your finances with Alzheimer’s.
• Learn about long-term care you may need and how to pay for it.
• Explore getting help to pay for medicines, housing, transportation, and more.

If you are working

• Consult your employer’s human resources department or employee assistance program about family leave, disability benefits, and other employee benefits.
• If you work, consider your options. Learn more about Alzheimer’s and employment.
• If you have problems performing your job, consider reducing your hours or switching to a less demanding position.
• People with Alzheimer’s may be eligible for disability income through private disability insurance, Social Security benefits, or veterans’ benefits. Social Security’s Compassionate Allowances program may help with speeding up a disability claim. Call 800-772-1213 for more information.

If you live alone

• Find someone who can visit you regularly and be an emergency contact.
• People with Alzheimer’s are at a greater risk of falling and should consider using an emergency response system. These systems use a special pendant or bracelet that lets you summon help if you fall and can’t reach the phone.
• Contact an occupational therapist who can teach you ways to stay independent for as long as possible. Ask your doctor for more information.
• Get tips about self-care, safety, staying connected, and more.

Explore ways to make tasks easier

• Use simple memory aids such as notes for reminders, a pillbox to organize medications, and a calendar to record appointments.
• Ask family members or friends, or find local services, to help with routine tasks, such as cooking, paying bills, transportation, or shopping.
• Try using technology to help with medication management, safety (e.g., emergency response, door alarms), and other care.

Be safer at home

• Learn more about home safety and get tips.
• Ask your doctor to order a home safety evaluation and recommend a home health care agency to conduct it. Medicare may cover the cost.
• Consider enrolling in the MedicAlert + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return program. Note that this service is not affiliated with NIA, and there may be a charge for this service.

Stay safe on the road

• Talk with your doctor if you become confused, get lost, take a long time to run a simple errand and can’t explain why, or if others worry about your driving.
• Get a driving evaluation. Ask your doctor for names of driving evaluators, contact your state’s department of motor vehicles, or visit the American Occupational Therapy Association.
• Learn more about driving safety for people with Alzheimer’s.

Make healthy lifestyle choices

• Be active. Exercise can help you feel better, and it keeps your muscles, joints, and heart in good shape.
• Eat a well-balanced diet.
• Stay connected with family and friends.
• Participate in meaningful activities, such as hobbies or volunteering, to keep your mind active and engaged.

Consider participating in Alzheimer’s research

• Ask your doctor about clinical trials or studies you might be eligible to participate in.
• Contact an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center about potential research opportunities.
• Use the Alzheimers.gov Clinical Trials Finder to search for a clinical trial or study near you.

You can learn more about clinical trials at NIA’s Clinical Trials Information page. To read stories about the impact of clinical trials, or to find a clinical trial near you, visit the NIH Clinical Research Trials and You page.

To learn more, please visit https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-treatment/next-steps-after-alzheimers-diagnosis.