World Alzheimer’s Month: Supporting Kansas Families Living With Dementia
Every September, World Alzheimer’s Month brings greater awareness to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia while recognizing the millions of individuals, families and caregivers whose lives are affected by memory loss.
For families across Kansas, that awareness is especially important.
According to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), approximately 55,000 Kansans age 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia in 2020. In 2026, an estimated 141,000 family and other unpaid caregivers in Kansas are providing more than 172 million hours of dementia care.
Behind those numbers are families navigating changes in memory, behavior, communication and everyday routines—often while trying to help someone they love remain safe and independent at home.
At Caretech, we believe families shouldn't have to navigate that journey alone.
What Is World Alzheimer’s Month?
World Alzheimer’s Month is observed throughout September, with World Alzheimer’s Day recognized on September 21.
The month is an opportunity to increase understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, challenge misconceptions surrounding memory loss and encourage individuals and families to seek information and support.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is an umbrella term for changes in memory, thinking, language and other cognitive abilities that become significant enough to interfere with everyday life.
While dementia becomes more common with age, significant cognitive decline should not simply be considered a normal part of getting older.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Affect the Entire Family
When someone begins experiencing dementia, the changes rarely affect that person alone.
A spouse may begin managing medications and meals. An adult child may start attending appointments, handling finances or stopping by more frequently. Family members may coordinate schedules so someone is available to check in throughout the week.
As needs increase, family caregiving can gradually become a 24-hour responsibility.
Some common challenges families caring for a loved one with dementia may encounter include:
Difficulty completing familiar daily activities
Forgetting meals, medications or appointments
Changes in communication
Increased confusion or disorientation
Changes in mood or behavior
Difficulty maintaining personal hygiene
Wandering or other safety concerns
Increased risk of falls
Changes in sleep routines
Social isolation
Caregiver stress and exhaustion
Every person's experience with dementia is different. Needs can also change over time, which makes having a flexible support system especially important.
Helping a Loved One With Dementia Remain Safe at Home
For many older adults, home represents familiarity, comfort and independence. Familiar surroundings and established routines can be particularly meaningful for someone experiencing cognitive changes.
However, remaining at home safely may require additional support.
Families can begin by looking at the everyday routines that have become more difficult. Is your loved one remembering to eat? Are they wearing clean clothes? Have they stopped doing household tasks they once handled easily? Are they becoming confused about their medications? Are they spending long periods alone?
Small changes can sometimes be early indications that additional help would be beneficial.
In-home dementia care and senior care services can provide additional support while allowing an older adult to remain in familiar surroundings.
Depending on an individual's needs, assistance may include:
Personal Care
Dementia can make previously familiar activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting more difficult. Compassionate personal assistance can help individuals maintain these routines while preserving dignity and as much independence as possible.
Meal Preparation
Changes in memory can lead someone to forget meals or have difficulty preparing food safely. In-home caregivers can assist with meal preparation and help establish more consistent eating routines.
Companionship
Meaningful human connection matters at every age. Regular companionship can provide conversation, activities and social engagement while helping reduce isolation.
Household Support
Laundry, light housekeeping and other everyday responsibilities can become increasingly difficult to manage. Having assistance with these tasks can help create a safer, more comfortable home environment.
Routine and Supervision
Predictable routines can be helpful for many individuals living with dementia. Consistent support can also provide families with greater reassurance that someone is there to assist with everyday needs.
Don't Forget About the Caregiver
One of the most important messages during World Alzheimer’s Month is also one of the easiest to overlook:
Caregivers need care, too.
Kansas families provide an extraordinary amount of unpaid dementia care. KDADS estimates that Kansas dementia caregivers will provide more than 172 million hours of unpaid care in 2026, valued at more than $3.4 billion.
Family caregivers may be balancing dementia care with careers, children, their own health and other responsibilities. Over time, that can become physically and emotionally exhausting.
Asking for help doesn't mean giving up responsibility for someone you love. Sometimes, bringing additional support into the home makes it possible for a family caregiver to continue being a spouse, daughter, son, sibling or friend—not only a caregiver.
Respite care can give family caregivers time to rest, attend appointments, work, spend time with other family members or simply take a break while knowing their loved one has support.
Kansas also offers the Kansas Respite for Alzheimer’s & Dementia Program (K-RAD) for qualifying family caregivers. The program is designed to provide relief to unpaid caregivers supporting someone with a probable diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Families can contact their local Area Agency on Aging to learn more about eligibility and available funding.
When Is It Time to Consider Additional Dementia Care at Home?
There isn't one moment when every family should seek additional care.
Instead, look for changes that suggest the current routine is becoming difficult to maintain.
It may be time to explore additional support if:
Your loved one is increasingly unsafe when alone.
Personal hygiene or household upkeep has noticeably declined.
Meals or medications are frequently missed.
Confusion or behavioral changes are becoming harder for the family to manage.
Your loved one is becoming increasingly isolated.
Family members are struggling to balance caregiving with work and other responsibilities.
The primary caregiver is becoming exhausted or overwhelmed.
You are worried about falls, wandering or other safety concerns.
Families do not necessarily have to wait for a crisis before asking for help. Adding support earlier can give everyone time to adjust and develop a care routine based on the individual's needs.
Dementia Care Should Focus on the Person, Not Just the Diagnosis
An Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis doesn't erase who someone is.
They are still the person who has favorite songs, foods and stories. They have routines they prefer, things that make them laugh and ways they like to spend their day.
Good dementia support recognizes the individual behind the diagnosis.
Whenever possible, care should encourage independence and choice while providing assistance where it is needed. That may mean helping rather than automatically taking over a task, maintaining familiar routines or finding activities that continue to provide a sense of purpose and connection.
For families, this person-centered approach can make everyday care feel less focused on what has been lost and more focused on what their loved one can still enjoy and accomplish.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resources for Kansas Families
If you're concerned about memory changes in yourself or someone you love, begin by speaking with a healthcare provider. Families can also find dementia information, caregiver education and support through resources available across Kansas.
The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services provides a Kansas Dementia Road Map with practical guidance for people experiencing memory changes, individuals who have received a diagnosis and their families.
The Kansas Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) can also connect older adults and caregivers with information about community services, long-term support and available programs.
The Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 provides confidential information and support to people living with dementia, caregivers and families at any time of day.
Caretech Is Here for Kansas Families
World Alzheimer’s Month reminds us that dementia care is about much more than a diagnosis. It's about helping people continue to experience dignity, connection, comfort and quality of life while giving the people who love them the support they need, too.
If your family is caring for an older adult living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or other age-related needs, Caretech of Kansas can help you explore in-home care and support options based on your family's situation.
Whether you need occasional assistance, respite for a family caregiver or more consistent support at home, you don't have to figure out the next step alone.
Contact Caretech of Kansas today to learn more about in-home senior care and dementia support for Kansas families.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care in Kansas
When is World Alzheimer’s Month?
World Alzheimer’s Month is observed every September. World Alzheimer’s Day takes place annually on September 21. The observance is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
How many people in Kansas are living with Alzheimer’s disease?
The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services reports that approximately 55,000 Kansans age 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia in 2020.
Can someone with dementia continue living at home?
Many people living with dementia can remain at home, depending on their individual needs, disease progression, home environment and available support. In-home care may help with personal care, meals, companionship, household activities and everyday routines. Families should work with healthcare professionals to determine what level of care is appropriate.
What is respite care for dementia caregivers?
Respite care provides temporary caregiving support so a family or other unpaid caregiver can take time away from their caregiving responsibilities. Depending on the program or provider, respite may be provided in the person's home or another care setting.
Does Kansas provide respite assistance for families caring for someone with dementia?
Kansas offers the Kansas Respite for Alzheimer’s & Dementia Program (K-RAD) for eligible unpaid caregivers of people with a probable Alzheimer's disease or related dementia diagnosis. Eligibility and funding requirements apply, and families can contact their local Area Agency on Aging for additional information.
How can in-home care help someone living with dementia?
Depending on the person's needs, in-home care can provide assistance with personal care, meal preparation, companionship, light household tasks and daily routines. It can also provide respite and additional support for family caregivers.