Alzheimer's Alliance of Smith County
Tyler-based nonprofit providing caregiver education, support groups, respite resources, and family consultations across the East Texas region.
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Trusted help, when you need it.
A curated set of resources for dementia caregivers and East Texas families: 24/7 helplines, local support, national organizations, and education. We've vetted every link so you don't have to.
24 / 7 · Free · Confidential
Need to talk to someone right now?
The Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline is staffed day and night by trained, master's-level clinicians. They handle crisis calls, referrals to local community programs, dementia-related education, and emotional support, in your preferred language through their interpreter service.
Start here
Quick Brief: Dementia
New to a dementia diagnosis? Begin with the National Institutes of Health's plain-language overview of what dementia is, how it progresses, what treatments exist, and where research is heading.
Read the overview on MedlinePlusLocal & Regional
Help that's close to home.
East Texas-based and Texas-wide organizations with caregiver programs, in-person support groups, and referrals. Call them first. They know the local landscape.
Texas Health and Human Services
State-level access to long-term care benefits, the Aging and Disability Resource Center, Area Agencies on Aging, and Medicaid programs that may apply to your family.
National Organizations
The trusted nationwide network.
Decades of dementia research, advocacy, and family support, built and stewarded by these national organizations.
Alzheimer's Association
The country's leading voluntary health organization for Alzheimer's care, support, and research. Programs and support services connect you with peers and professionals to make the plans and adjustments necessary for the road ahead.
BrightFocus Foundation
Funds groundbreaking research toward cures for Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma, and publishes expert family-facing information on each.
The Hearthstone Institute
I'm Still Here® is the philosophy and practice behind Hearthstone's nationally recognized approach to dementia care. Grounded in the belief that people living with dementia remain whole, present, and able to grow.
Education & Research
Learn the landscape.
Government and academic information: plain-language explainers, current research, and a short film that captures what good dementia care can look like.
MedlinePlus
U.S. National Library of Medicine site with patient-facing information on dementia, Alzheimer's, related conditions, and clinical support services, written for families, not specialists.
Dementia overview: treatment, prognosis, and research
A deeper dive into what's currently known about dementia: the underlying biology, treatment options, expected progression, and the most active research questions.
Abe's Garden
A short film about Abe's Garden Community in Nashville, one of the U.S. models for what we're building in Quitman. Twenty minutes that changes how you imagine a memory care home.
Questions Families Ask
What to know about the Center today.
The Memory Health Life Center is a project in development. The resources above are available now; everything described for the Center itself is planned.
Is the Memory Health Life Center open?
Not yet. The Center is a planned community in development, and it is not accepting residents or applications. The campus images on this site describe a future vision, not care available today.
When can families learn about availability?
An opening date and admissions process have not been announced. Sign up for project updates or contact the Foundation with questions. Subscribing to updates does not reserve a place.
What is planned for families once the Center opens?
The plan calls for small residential homes for 54 people living with dementia, gardens and walking paths, and an education and training center intended for care professionals and family caregivers. Services, staffing, and programs will be finalized as the Center is designed. See the campus plans.
How much will care cost?
Fees have not been set. The Foundation's mission is to serve residents based on their ability to pay, and the project plan describes sliding-scale fees. The Foundation will share details as they are decided.
Where can I find help today?
Start with the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900, then the local and regional organizations on this page. You can also call the Foundation at (903) 760-9224 and we will point you in the right direction.
Can I visit or attend something?
The Foundation posts community gatherings and project briefings on the events page.
A note from the Foundation
We've vetted every link.
These resources are pulled from the same shelf the Wood County Health Care Foundation team uses when families call us directly. They aren't a substitute for a doctor or a social worker. They're a place to start.
If you don't see what you need, call us at (903) 760-9224 or use our contact form and we'll point you the right direction.