Dear Caregivers,

Welcome to another week and another year!  See below for this week's news and announcements.

SAVVY CAREGIVER TRAINING PROGRAM, STARTING TUESDAY FEBURARY 6TH: REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

The COMPASS team is excited to announce registration is open for our second offering of Savvy Caregiver, a nationally recognized leading evidence-based dementia family caregiver training program designed to provide mastery over caregiving skills! This session will start Tuesday February 6th, the program will be delivered in person at JFS over 12 weekly sessions by our COMPASS team social workers, Laura Dickol, LMSW and Barb Hughes, LMSW, and will provide participants mastery of dementia knowledge and caregiving skills as you care for your relative living with dementia. The program is an exclusive benefit for COMPASS clients, but space is limited. 

As an option for your person with dementia, we will again be offering Memory Cafe to run concurrently at the JCC (Gameesh Room) from 10am-12pm.  Memory Cafe is a safe, supportive space for individuals experiencing memory changes to enjoy engaging activities that focus on strengths and are planned to encourage inclusion of all guests.  Memory Cafe will be facilitated by JFS staff.

Registration is required for both programs; to register, respond to this email to let Kate Gruber know of your interest, and you will subsequently be contacted by the Savvy Caregiver facilitators, Laura Dickol or Barb Hughes to confirm your registration. Please note that Savvy Caregiver does not have a virtual option at this time. 

MEMORY CAFE: STARTING TUESDAY JANUARY 16

We are also excited to announce that Memory Cafe is starting up again next week! Memory Cafe is a safe, supportive space for individuals experiencing memory changes to enjoy engaging activities that focus on strengths and are planned to encourage inclusion of all guests.  Memory Cafe is open to all COMPASS Patients and is facilitated by JFS staff. Caregivers are welcome to accompany their person with dementia or patients can attend alone.

Memory Cafe will run every Tuesday starting January 16th, from 10a-12p in the JCC (Gameesh Room). Please enter through JFS.

You do not need to be attending Savvy Caregiver in order for your person with dementia to attend Memory Cafe. Registration is required and can be done by responding to this email.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

COMPASS Caregiver Therapy and Support Group

Wednesday January 24, 5-6 PM

Did you know that the COMPASS community has an ongoing therapy group for caregivers? The COMPASS Caregiver Therapy and Support Group is co-led by JFS social work clinicians (Emily Barnshaw and Jordan Gerecke) and is billed through our participant’s insurance. It is strictly for COMPASS caregivers, and the focus for each session is on introducing and developing various therapy concepts that directly connect to the caregiving experience and stress that comes with it. It is an active group, and participants often use their insight and personal experiences to take the conversation into productive and new directions. We meet virtually on a bi-weekly basis (every other Wednesday from 5-6pm). Due to insurance, this group is only available to caregivers who reside in Delaware.  

Also please note that this group is currently at capacity. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please email Kate. 

Memory Cafe

Tuesdays, starting January 16, 10a-12p at the JCC (Gameesh Room)

Memory Cafe is a safe, supportive space for individuals experiencing memory changes to enjoy engaging activities that focus on strengths and are planned to encourage inclusion of all guests.  Memory Cafe is facilitated by JFS staff and caregivers are welcome to accompany their person with dementia or patients can attend alone.

• Every Tuesday, 10a-12p
• Held at the JCC but please enter through JFS

Registration for Memory Cafe is required in advance. Please contact Kate to register.

Savvy Caregiver

Tuesdays, Starting February 6, 10a-12p at JFS

Registration is now open! Please respond to this email to register or to request more information.

Savvy Caregiver is a nationally recognized leading evidence-based dementia family caregiver training program designed to provide mastery over caregiving skills. Led by COMPASS team social workers, Laura Dickol, LMSW and Barb Hughes, LMSW, the program will provide participants mastery of dementia knowledge and caregiving skills as you care for your relative living with dementia. As an option for your person with dementia, we will also be offering Memory Cafe to run concurrently at the JCC from 10am-12pm.

COMPASS ON CALL SERVICE:

PHONE NUMBER: (302) 530-3159         

HOURS: Weekdays/Business Days: 5PM – 8AM

               Weekends/Non-Business Days: 24/7

• The COMPASS On Call service is available to assist with urgent patient/caregiver needs related to the patient’s dementia care plan, such as providing support and guidance if the patient is experiencing a behavioral symptom crisis or if the caregiver is experiencing a caregiver stress crisis. 
• The COMPASS On Call Service is staffed by JFS clinical staff from across the agency, including social workers and care managers, who work closely with the COMPASS team. Your call will be returned within 1 hour. 
• Non-urgent needs, such as canceling/rescheduling appointments or prescription refill requests, are best addressed by the COMPASS team during business hours. Non-urgent information can still be sent to COMPASS team members after hours by voicemail or portal message.  
• Patients and Caregivers are directed to contact the patient’s primary care provider regarding concerns related to the patient’s general medical conditions and any urgent medical symptoms. For medical emergencies, call 9-1-1. 

COMPASS PATIENT PORTAL:

Access the COMPASS portal here or click on the box below.

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The JFS COMPASS Mission is to provide specialized medical care for older adults with dementia and just as importantly, critical support for their caregivers—including education, counseling and improved access to services—with the over-arching goal that patients and families affected by dementia in our community will receive the care and support they need to navigate the challenges they face. We strive to do this with a spirit of service and compassion.