A correct diagnosis, a proper prescription and a compassionate ear can save a caregiver weeks of frustration. If you don't have a doctor you can trust, try to find a geriatrician. They're trained to understand the aging body and the complications of multiple, chronic illnesses.

To search for a geriatrician, or any other type of doctor, go to the Florida Department of Health website www.doh.state.fl.us and click on the subject choice "practitioner/physician profiling." You can search the database for physicians by name or specialty, including geriatrics. The doctors' records include information on where they trained, where they've practiced, publications and disciplinary actions.

For more information, check with the local medical societies.
• Pinellas County Medical Society, (727) 541-1159
• Pasco County Medical Society, (727) 869-7053
• Hillsborough County Medical Association, (813) 253-0471

If a loved one appears to be suffering from dementia, it's essential to get the right diagnosis. Dementia can be caused by many things, small strokes, depression., not just Alzheimer's disease.

First go to your family doctor, geriatrician or neurologist, if you have one. If you need more help, call a memory disorder clinic. There are several in the Tampa Bay area.
• Memorial Hospital of Tampa, The Memory Center, (813) 873-2673
• Morton Plant Mease Memory Clinic, (727) 461-8867
• Suncoast Gerontology Center, University of South Florida, (813) 974-4355
• University of South Florida Roskamp Institute/Memory Disorder Clinic, (813) 974-3100.

Some of these clinics may be participating in tests of drugs for Alzheimer's. Other medical centers in the area may be testing drugs for other conditions, such as Parkinson's and osteoporosis. You can find a list of drug trials across the country at www.ClinicalTrials.gov

For more information on finding a doctor or clinic for someone with dementia or for more about Alzheimer's drug trials, contact your local Alzheimer's Association chapter.
• Alzheimer's Association, Tampa Bay Chapter, 1-800-772-8672, www.alz-tbc.org
• Alzheimer's Family Association (Pasco County), (727) 848-8888.

Other Web resources:
• Alzheimer's Association - www.alz.org
• Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center - www.alzheimers.org
• Florida Department of Health, www.doh.state.fl.us
• National Institutes of Health, Medline health information, www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus.