Local chapters of the national Alzheimer's Association are connecting caregivers and patients in a new way, on the web.

ALZ.org is a website all about Alzheimer’s. ALZ Connected is a new addition: it's an online discussion board. Diana Butz is with the Wausau area ALZ. She says it prevents caregivers and patients from feeling isolated. It can also answer questions people may have: “For example, somebody could post a question on how to deal with Mom and not let her drive. And there will be people who reply back and give lots of answers as to how they have worked with that issue.”

Butz says the networking site is free. The Alzheimer's Association also has a toll free Helpline but expanded its online presence because social media is popular with who they're trying to reach, “We know that the leading growth in social media is with the over-55 population. They are joining in droves, and they are just looking for information. This forum is a way to help them be connected in that social media type of network.”

Butz says there are all kinds of different forums on the Alzheimer's website: one for clinical trials; another for caregivers; and one for those who have the disease.