Navigating Memory Care for Families
“I am new to this. My husband showed signs of dementia for years but would not get diagnosed. Finally got a diagnosis, which helps, but there isn't a place to find out what to do now. Where is the how-to manual? I need a list of all the things I need to do, and the order I need to do them in. Does one exist?"
~ Vivian, a caregiver from Calvert County
Families caring for people with dementia often feel overwhelmed and unprepared. Each family has their own unique needs, but all of them need guidance on what to do, what to expect, and how to prepare for the future. Johns Hopkins University, in partnership with the Maryland Information Network and Maryland Department of Aging, has developed a tool that can help.
The Johns Hopkins Memory Care Family Checklist is an innovative resource that helps families impacted by dementia identify their needs, access reliable information, and connect to supports to help them develop a larger care plan.
How the Checklist Works
The Checklist guides caregivers through a series of questions and evaluates needs in key areas that impact health and wellness.
For the person living with memory loss, the Checklist evaluates:
- Cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes
- Home and personal safety
- Health care and future planning
- Daily routines and meaningful activities
For the caregiver, the Checklist evaluates:
- Health, wellness, and long-term planning
- Education and awareness
- Informal supports and daily living needs
A Personalized Report is generated, with tailored recommendations that offer direction on what to know, what to do, and where to find help. Links to additional information are included to help families plan ahead and connect to Community Resources through
Maryland Access Point. Those resources can be filtered further to match personal preferences, giving families choice and control over finding supports that are right for them.
While not intended to replace a clinical diagnosis or treatment plan, the report offers important direction in early care planning—an essential need for families impacted by dementia.
Reliable and Researched-Based
The Checklist integrates with
211's Community Resource Database to connect the user with up-to-date, location-specific supports based on their unique circumstances. Based on the Johns Hopkins Dementia Care Needs Assessment (JHDCNA) tool—an evidence-based resource that evaluates multidimensional care needs for people living with dementia and their caregivers—the Checklist is endorsed by the
Virginia I. Jones Dementia Care and Services Coordinating Council as the preferred tool for assessing family support needs.
