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Welcome to the Online Resource Center, dedicated to assisting caregivers with dementia care.
Health Services Advisory Group of California has developed this Resource Center to provide
the information that caregivers like you need most. First, let's give you a sense of the
organization of the website. There are four main parts of the Resource Center. Each concerns
a main category to meet your needs. Take a look at the "He or she is experiencing" button.
This is where you'll find answers and help regarding common behaviors and emotions experienced
by people with dementia. Let's click on the blue button. You'll see a drop-down menu listing
a number of topics to explore. Click on "Falls" as an example. Here you will see a number
of resources that link to an outside, reliable resource you can use daily. Let's click on
the "Home Fall Prevention Checklist." This resource includes an easy-to-follow checklist
with solutions to help your loved ones stay safe in their home from falls. Now just click
on the "x" on the tab to return to the Online Resource Center. The navigation we just showed
you for "He or she is experiencing" can also be used for the other categories on the Online
Resource Center. Next, take a look at the "I need" button. This is where you'll find
resources and suggestions to help you regarding a variety of caregiver-related issues. Now,
let's look at the "I want to learn about" button. This is where you'll find important,
reliable articles, tools and guides regarding dementia-related topics. If you haven't noticed
already, there are rating stars beneath the content presented, allowing you to assess
how valuable you find the information listed there. We invite you to offer your opinion
because that helps us to present the information you find useful. One star is a low score,
while five stars is the highest compliment. Simply move your cursor to the star rating
you wish to give and click on it. The fourth main category is the "I would like to share"
button. By clicking on any of these topics you'll be directed to the discussion board
- a place to share your thoughts, connect with other caregivers, and find short-topic
discussions. At the discussion board click on a topic folder that interests you, then
click "New Topic" to add your comment. Fill out the fields and click "Post." It's as simple
as that. Want to comment on a pre-existing comment? Simply click on a post and choose
either the "Quick Reply" or "Post Reply" button to offer your response. Type your message,
then click the "Post" button. Quick replies allow you to remark without identifying yourself.
A few more notes about the discussion board - there is a top menu which features buttons
to help you navigate the discussion area. Your starting place is the "Register" button,
which when clicked presents the rules of our discussion board as a safe place, free of
inappropriate remarks or advertising. Once you register you can log in and join in the
conversation. The "Forum" button brings you back to the main discussion page. The "Active
Topics" button presents a page with the most recent postings all in one place. The "Search"
button allows you to find a post by entering a key word search. The "Help" page presents
information on how the discussion board works. To get back to the main menu just click on
the "Assisting Caregivers with Dementia Care" logo at the top of the page. Speaking about
finding your way home, if you ever get lost you can always return to the main page by
clicking on the "Resource Center" button. There is another important feature to the
Online Resource Center - our podcasts. You'll find that button at the bottom of the main
page and other pages. New podcasts will be posted regularly, so be sure to visit this
page often. We want to invite your feedback, so feel free to reach us by clicking the "Contact"
button, also featured at the bottom of the main page and other pages. Use NursingHomes@hsag.com
to e-mail us directly. That's the Online Resource Center in a nutshell. We hope you'll find
the information, podcasts, and tools helpful in your journey as a caregiver for someone
with dementia. Welcome!