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

