Alzheimer's is a disease that also affects family and friends apart from the patient. While the patient goes throughout the different stages of the disease, the care-takers have to be more and more involved in helping the patient and have to be around the patient more and more. In the early stages, what the patient needs is someone that has an eye on him/her. The patient can get lost while going for a walk around the block, because he just does not remember the surroundings any more. It is also usual for the person who has the health problems related to the Alzheimer's, to forget to put on a piece of clothing, or just underestimate the cold outside and walk around in summer clothing, while it is really cold. They need someone to look after them.

The need for someone to take care of the patient gets greater in the later stages of the disease, when the patient is not able to take care of every day jobs, like cleaning, washing himself, going to the toilet etc. In that stage, he needs someone to be around 24/7 or he needs to be taken to a hospital or a retirement home. It is still possible, that someone takes care of him at home, but this care is very complicated, and cannot be done by everyone.

In the early stages it is also important, that the patient has someone to talk to. There are different programs that facilitate support to those having aging related problems. These programs can provide help when the patient needs someone to talk to. They provide a help telephone line, that you can always call to and talk to someone that will understand your needs. When the patient is still able to walk and go out, it is a great idea that she goes to a group therapy or a group session. Getting to know that you are not the only person with these problems, and that there are other people who can understand what you are going through. The modern technology can also help with this, even when the patient is not able to go out of the house any more. Chat rooms and forums, related to Alzheimer's can provide help, understanding and company for the patients who should not feel lonely.

On the other hand, because the relatives are also severely involved into the process they also need support. The same organizations that provide Alzheimer's disease support normally also provide support for the care-takers. They need a place, where they can freely speak about the disease, where they can get additional information about the help that they provide. Getting help from someone who knows the problems himself is the best way to do it. Advice from someone who knows it first hand will be best accepted by the relatives and will have the best impact on the patient also.