Alzheimer's Caregivers Going Online for Support in Record Numbers

Tremendous Growth and Adoption of Caring.com's Steps & Stages in First Year

San Mateo, CA; Sept. 21, 2011 — Caring.com, the leading online destination for family caregivers, today — on World Alzheimer's Day — announced that its breakthrough Steps & Stages resource is now among the largest and fastest-growing online resources for Alzheimer's caregivers. Since its launch in October 2010, Steps & Stages has helped more than 120,000 caregivers with this free resource devoted to Alzheimer's caregiving.

With research indicating that over 25 percent of family caregivers seek support online, Caring.com has experienced tremendous growth in Steps & Stages — which includes a free custom care guide, stage-based newsletter, and online support groups for caregivers. In the past three months, visits to Stage Groups, which provide Alzheimer's support by enabling caregivers to connect with each other, have grown by 200 percent.

"The journey for an Alzheimer's caregiver can be overwhelming and lonely. When you hear that a loved one has Alzheimer's, you don't know where to turn, what to do, or what lies ahead," said Andy Cohen, co-founder and CEO of Caring.com. "Steps & Stages has made this difficult process easier and more manageable for thousands of caregivers. The rapid growth of Steps & Stages validates the importance of getting information and support from those who truly understand the Alzheimer's caregiving experience."

Caring.com's Steps & Stages has changed how caregivers approach the progression of the disease, targeting their need for specific information based on where their loved one is on the path from early mild-stage to late severe-stage Alzheimer's disease. After completing a brief stage assessment, each caregiver receives a personalized care guide — which can be updated as new Alzheimer's symptoms arise — along with practical tips each week.

With thousands of visitors and conversation posts each month, Stage Groups connect caregivers whose loved ones are at a similar stage of dementia. Caregivers can visit their Stage Group at any time of day or night to share their experiences, get advice, feel less isolated, and laugh and cry with those who understand what they're going through. Whether talking about their daily trials and tribulations or discussing the pros and cons of Alzheimer's tests and clinical trials, Stage Groups provide a convenient, easy way for Alzheimer's caregivers to meet their information and support needs, on their own schedules and without fear of being judged.

"This group is a godsend. We help each other with everyday issues," says Tracey Jackson of Hoover, Alabama, who, for the last seven years, has been the sole caregiver for her mother, Edna. "I can log on at 4 a.m. and have someone to talk to — or vent to. The prayers and words of encouragement are the best."

Alzheimer's caregivers who are interested in joining a Steps & Stages online support group can visit https://www.caring.com/caregivers/alzheimers-caregiving/ to preview conversations, join this vibrant community, and start receiving helpful tips and advice.

Caring.com's CEO and co-founder Andy Cohen will provide a live demo of Steps & Stages at the Health 2.0 conference in San Francisco on Monday, September 26.

With millions of visitors to its flagship website, Caring.com, Caring is a leading senior living referral service and the nation’s top site for senior care reviews. Founded in 2007, Caring’s mission is to help as many seniors and their caregivers as possible through empathetic, expert guidance. Applying cutting-edge technology to this humane mission, Caring provides relevant senior care information and support, as well as comprehensive senior living and senior care directories for the United States, including nearly 400,000 consumer reviews. Through a toll-free referral line at (800) 558-0653, Caring’s trusted, nationwide team of Family Advisors — who are among the most highly trained, highly skilled, and knowledgeable experts in senior care — helps seniors and their families research and connect to the most appropriate services and support for their specific situations. For more information about our organization and our free services for seniors and their families, please visit http://www.caring.com/about and join with Caring on Facebook.