Having trouble viewing this email? Right click the top of this email and select "download pictures" or "add to safe senders list" to view JFS images & content.  

Dear Caregivers,

Welcome to another week!

See below for this week's news and announcements.

Please note there is no Memory Cafe or Savvy Caregiver Training this week.


JFS COMPASS HOLIDAY GATHERING

JFS COMPASS Holiday Gathering

Tuesday December 12, 10:30a-12:00p

Location: SIEGEL JCC (building connected to JFS)


Please join us for a holiday gathering for COMPASS patients and caregivers to come together with each other and with the COMPASS Team this season. Feel free to join for some or all of the time. The mood will be festive, with refreshments, music and games.


If you think you might attend, please respond to this email to help us with planning.

CAREGIVER TIP OF THE WEEK: BOUNDARIES

Part 2 of 4: Porous Boundaries

We continue with our Boundaries series, adapted from content originally authored by JFS Fellowship Program Director, Wendell Covell, LCSW. We hope it will continue to be a helpful support to you as we head into the holidays.


In the first installment of this series a couple of weeks ago, we reviewed what a boundary is, and the function boundaries play in our life, and relationships. Today I wanted to introduce one of the three common boundary styles. As I go through the different styles it’s important to think about your own boundary type, and what seems to be typical for you, but also to think about the boundaries of people you are in relationships with.  


The boundary style I am introducing today is porous boundaries. Porous boundaries are overly flexible and often dictated by the people someone is in relation to. When people utilize porous boundaries, they struggle to say “no” to the requests of others, can be dependent on the opinions of others, fearful of rejection and overly involved with others’ emotional states or problems. If you find yourself shifting your opinion based on the opinion of other family members or find yourself going along with things you don’t value then you may be using porous boundaries. Porous boundaries can leave us feeling taken advantage of and drained because we are constantly responding to the needs of others but are not having our own needs considered.  

If you feel like you use porous boundaries frequently it is important to evaluate why and with who. A lot of times porous boundaries can be connected to fear of loss, poor self-esteem, or the role someone carries in their family of origin. As you evaluate the function of the boundaries you set, you can be more intentional about shifting your boundaries so that they better serve you and your relationships.  


In two weeks, we will return with Part 3 of the series in which Rigid Boundaries will be discussed.

CAREGIVER TIP OF THE WEEK: 6 STEPS TO MAKE THANKSGIVING DEMENTIA FRIENDLY

Alzheimer's Foundation of America


With families and friends nationwide preparing for Thanksgiving, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is offering 6 steps to create a dementia-friendly Thanksgiving for the more than 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia-related illness.


AFA offers the following 6 steps to help make a Thanksgiving celebration dementia-friendly:

  • Factor the person’s routine into scheduling the celebration. Changes in daily routine can be challenging for someone living with dementia, so to the greatest extent possible, plan the celebration around their routine. Consider holding celebrations earlier in the day to minimize the potential impact of “sundowning” – a common syndrome that can cause agitation and confusion in the late afternoon-early evening as the sun sets.
  • Plan for help. Relatives and friends are often eager to assist but may not know how. Give them specific tasks that they can help with, such as asking them to bring a dish, help with cooking, shopping, or decorating, or spending time with your loved one while you are preparing for the celebration.
  • Prepare your loved one. Try to familiarize them with the guests beforehand by showing photos, sharing stories, or arranging a phone or Facetime chat prior to the celebration. You could also make an invitation to the event to share with your loved one so they know the details and that it will be happening.
  • Prepare your guests. Consider sharing beneficial information with guests about your loved one—such as ways to communicate with the person, what they respond well to, and what may cause distress—especially if they have not seen the person recently. This will help facilitate positive interactions and engagement.
  • Keep your loved one involved. Make adaptations that enable your loved one to participate in the celebration by focusing on what they can do, rather than what they cannot. Invite them to help by preparing ingredients for a simple dish, setting the table, decorating, and other activities. Playing familiar music or going through old photos are forms of reminiscence that can bring joy and foster positivity during the celebration. Singing familiar songs, arts and crafts, and having a snack together are great intergenerational activities that kids can participate in as well.
  • Have a quiet space available. Prepare a quiet place away from the crowd where the person with dementia can go if the celebration becomes too much for them. Have familiar comfort items available (i.e., favorite blanket, sweater, stuffed animal) that will help them feel safe and comfortable. Try to control the flow of visitors when possible; those in the early stages are better able to interact than those in later stages.





Read the full article here


UPCOMING EVENTS:

JFS COMPASS Holiday Gathering

Tuesday December 12, 10:30a-12:00p

Location: SIEGEL JCC (building connected to JFS)


Please join us for a festive gathering for COMPASS patients and caregivers to come together with each other and with the COMPASS Team this holiday season. Feel free to join for some or all of the time. Coffee and light refreshments will also be provided.


More information to come in the following weeks! 


Savvy Caregiver Training Program

Tuesday November 28, 10:15a-11:45a



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.  


Registration for the fall 2023 session of Savvy Caregiver is currently closed but be on the lookout for spring 2024 registration in the coming months.

Memory Cafe

Tuesday November 28, 10:00a-12:00p


We have decided to open up a few more slots for COMPASS patients to attend the COMPASS Memory Cafe! Any COMPASS patient is now welcome to enroll (it is no longer required that attendees have a caregiver who is enrolled in the Savvy Caregiver class). 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 until 12/5, 10a-12p (no Memory Cafe on 11/21)
  • Held at the JCC but please enter through JFS


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

COMPASS Caregiver Therapy and Support Group

Wednesday November 29, 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.  


Please note that the Caregiver Therapy and Support Group will be held on Wednesday 12/13 as scheduled and will then take a pause, resuming on Wednesday 1/24 at 5p.


Limited spots are now available. Please email Kate if you would like to enroll in this group.

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.

COMPASS PATIENT PORTAL

FOLLOW JFS on social media!

Keep up with what's new at JFS Delaware!

Comment, Like, and SHARE!

Facebook  Instagram  Linkedin  Youtube  

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. 

Jewish Family Services of Delaware (JFS) is a nonprofit human services agency with a mission to strengthen individuals, families, and the community by providing counseling and support services. With an interdisciplinary and innovative approach, we combine talent, expertise, and leadership to make our robust therapeutic and support services available to everyone, regardless of religion, race, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or special need.

99 Passmore Road
Wilmington, DE 19803

20684 John J Williams Hwy, Suite 4
Lewes, DE 19958

(302) 478-9411
DONATE