40 | MARCH 23 • 2023
A
n early- to moder-
ate-stage dementia or
Alzheimer’s disease
diagnosis can feel like a devastat-
ing blow. Those diagnosed and
their families often feel over-
whelmed thinking about all the
life changes to come.
While a diagnosis can be
difficult to process, finding
support and resources early
on is essential to increasing
the quality of life of both the
person living with the disease
and their family caregiver, who
is typically an adult child or
spouse. To help individuals meet
this goal, Jewish Family Service
offers SHARE for Dementia,
an evidence-based program
from Benjamin Rose Institute
on Aging, within its Caregiver
Support Program.
The Caregiver Support
Program at JFS, supported by
grants from the Jewish Fund
and the Ben Teitel Philanthropic
Fund, focuses on helping to
reduce family caregiver stress,
avoid caregiver burnout and
achieve the best possible care
for their loved ones. SHARE for
Dementia helps guide families
through the anxiety of an early-
to moderate-stage diagnosis by
creating a practical plan for the
future that puts the person who
has been diagnosed at the center
of their own care.
HOW DOES SHARE WORK?
The person living with dementia
or Alzheimer’s and their family
caregiver meet with a SHARE
counselor for five interactive,
guided sessions that provide
individualized support, consid-
er physical and mental health
needs, prioritize meaningful and
purposeful activities, access and
navigate available resources, and
offer general education about
dementia and Alzheimer’s dis-
ease.
Each session builds upon
the last, allowing the person
with the diagnosis and their
family caregiver to talk openly
about the diagnosis. Together,
they create a personalized plan
for their future (the SHARE
Plan) and find ways to preserve
their way of life as much as pos-
sible going forward.
An optional sixth session pro-
vides both parties a valuable tool
— a space for a productive fami-
ly meeting can be held to inform
close family members about
their loved one’s diagnosis and
the family caregiver’s needs for
support. In this family session,
the person with the diagnosis,
their family caregiver and invit-
ed family members can openly
express their thoughts and con-
cerns regarding the future. The
SHARE counselor can provide
dementia and Alzheimer’s dis-
ease education as needed, and all
involved can ask any questions
they might have as their loved
one’s disease progresses.
This opportunity for discus-
sion helps reduce misinforma-
tion about the diagnosis and
increase feelings of readiness for
upcoming life changes. Other
family members then learn
about the SHARE Plan their
loved ones have made and how
they can help the two implement
and maintain this plan as time
goes on. Everyone hears the
same message and comes
together on the same page to
support their loved ones.
WHY PARTICIPATE IN
SHARE?
SHARE helps clarify post-diag-
nosis next steps and makes each
day feel more doable for all par-
ties involved. Those living with
early- to moderate-stage demen-
tia or Alzheimer’s have the
opportunity to make their care
preferences known, promoting
confidence that their caregiver
and family members will honor
their wishes when they can no
longer communicate them.
In turn, caregivers and family
members are empowered and
often relieved to know they can
carry out their loved one’s wishes
when making important care
decisions on their behalf.
In addition, caregivers who
are doing more than they will
be able to keep up with as their
loved ones’ needs progress are
equipped with the strategies
and tools necessary to strike a
balance.
Everyone involved in SHARE
will end the program with more
hope for the future and antici-
pation for the meaningful and
happy times still to come.
“My mother and I communi-
cate very well,
” says one SHARE
participant. “But when it came to
knowing what she wanted as the
dementia goes on, I would not
have known what she wanted
without help from the SHARE
program.
”
WHAT IF MY LOVED
ONE HAS A MORE
ADVANCED DEMENTIA OR
ALZHEIMER’S DIAGNOSIS?
SHARE was designed to be an
early- to moderate-stage demen-
OUR COMMUNITY
JFS program empowers those with early- to moderate-
stage dementia and families.
Caregiving for
Dementia Patients
EMILY GORDON, LLMSW SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS