NYC Alzheimer’s Experts Present CaringKind: The Heart of Alzheimer’s Caregiving

New York’s leading experts in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia care, formerly known as the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter, have unveiled their new name, CaringKind: The Heart of Alzheimer’s Caregiving.

The New York City chapter broke away from the national organization in December and is now returning to its roots as an independent charity.

The new brand, headquartered at 360 Lexington Ave. in Manhattan, is New York City’s leading charity that focuses on caregiving support for patients and families living with Alzheimer’s and Alzheimer’s-related dementias. With its three decades of experience in the development and implementation of cuttinge-edge, creative caregiving initiatives, CaringKind is now able to provide a groundbreaking platform of programs to help New York’s Alzheimer’s community.

“At CaringKind, we see people, not a disease. We understand that one caregiver’s experience is not like any other. And we help individuals and families affected by a dementia diagnosis find the right path to best meet their unique needs.  From that first call to our 24-hour Helpline, our trained professionals offer the guidance caregivers need, when they need it, to make each day a little bit brighter,” said CaringKind’s president and CEO Lou-Ellen Barkan in a press release.

“At CaringKind, we know there is no one-size-fits-all approach to dementia caregiving.  We understand what it takes to be an Alzheimer’s caregiver. It takes a special kind of person to rise to the challenge. It takes the courageous kind. The listening kind. The loving kind. It takes the caring kind,” Barkan said.

Despite the fresh visuals and name, New Yorkers can still rely on the same top-quality, free-of-charge service they have come to expect for the past three decades, and the organization will continue its featured services, such as:

• A 24-hour Helpline (1-646-744-2900), still the best way to access expert and caring advice 365 days a year;
• A series of committed support groups, workshops and educational seminars for the entire Alzheimer’s disease community;
• Training programs in dementia care for home health aides and other healthcare organizations;
• Partnerships will grow stronger with nursing homes, key medical centers, world-renowned researchers and the Alzheimer’s community in New York City;
• The well-known MedicAlert NYC, which will continue to provide resources to protect wanderers with dementia, thanks to the NYPD’s strong commitment;
• The Early Stage Center, which will remain open for business;
• Satellite programs in Brooklyn and Queens will continue their activities;
• Outreach efforts will continue to work toward inclusion of diversity groups, such as African-Americans, Latinos, Orthodox Jewish, Russians, Chinese and the LGBT community.

It is estimated that more than 500,000 New Yorkers are either living with Alzheimer’s or taking care of a loved one who has the disease. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of mortality in the United States.

“In the absence of a cure and effective therapies, good care is the best medicine we have.  At CaringKind it is our responsibility to create the kind of innovative and compassionate support services that our caregivers deserve and our families need,” Barkan said.