MARLBOROUGH – Isolation is a feeling many with dementia and their caregivers experience once a diagnosis is confirmed.

Oftentimes, caregivers and their loved ones rarely leave their homes out of fear that their friend or family member with dementia may act inappropriately.

The MetroWest Alzheimer’s Community Partnership – an affiliation of the Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts/New Hampshire chapter – is aiming to rid those diagnosed with dementia and their caregivers of that isolation through a new outreach program.

The partnership – comprising healthcare and human service providers – this week provided a box of informational pamphlets and books to the Senior Center at 40 New St. in Marlborough. Materials include brochures on the 10 signs of Alzheimer’s and the basics of the disease. The box – which is in the main lobby of the center – features books written by caregivers that provide tips on how to cope with the diagnosis.

“A lot of times it’s an untalked-about disease,” said Jennifer Richtsmeier of HomeInstead Healthcare. “It’s good information so people don’t feel alone.”

It also includes business cards stating “Please be patient with me, my companion has a memory problem” that can be used by caregivers at restaurants and shops. There is also information on clinical trials those with dementia can be involved in.

“Because there’s no cure, people feel hopeless, but there’s a lot they can do,” said Michelle Bodin-Hettinger, social services and community outreach director at Homewatch Caregivers.

Bodin-Hettinger and Richtsmeier stressed that many caregivers do not have all the information they need regarding the disease and services available. The books must be returned, but the pamphlets can be taken.

“We want these materials to be available to everybody,” said Bodin-Hettinger.

The MetroWest Alzheimer’s Community Partnership is separate from the tri-town Dementia Friendly Communities Initiative Marlborough, Northborough and Hudson have undertaken. That program also aims provide support through a variety of programs, including DayBreak – where caregivers can drop off their loved ones for an afternoon of games, music and companionship.

For more information on the MetroWest Alzheimer’s Community Partnership’s initiative, call the Marlborough Senior Center at 508-485-6492 or visit www.alz.org/MANH.

Jeff Malachowski can be reached at 508-490-7466 or jmalachowski@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JmalachowskiMW.