JFCS receives grant to support services for people with dementia and their caregivers

Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis (JFCS) is excited to announce it has received a generous grant from the MN Board on Aging to support services for people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, as well as their caregivers.

 

The MN Board on Aging has awarded JFCS a grant to complete memory screenings for clients ages 60-plus (including Somali- and Russian-speaking older adults), provide dementia caregiver coaching, conduct Dementia Friends trainings and provide Dementia Champion training for volunteers.

 

“We’re thrilled to receive this funding, which will help us improve how we serve people with dementia,” said Annette Sandler, JFCS Aging Services Director. “Our staff has long been at the forefront of this issue and has embraced trainings that improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers. We are proud to build on that tradition with this grant.”

 

Dementia Friends is a global movement that is changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. By helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects people, each of us can make a difference for people touched by dementia. To become a Dementia Friend, individuals participate in a one-hour information session presented by a Dementia Friends Champion, where they learn techniques to help improve the quality of life for people living with dementia.

 

Under JFCS’ Caregiver Coaching program, senior services staff – who are certified in Advance Dementia Capabilities – guide family members in making changes to improve self-care and also coordinate services to benefit the person living with dementia.

 

JFCS is one of several community organizations to receive a grant from the MN Board on Aging to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and help caregivers. “Alzheimer’s alone impacts more than 91,000 Minnesotans over age 65 and the number is growing,” said Kari Benson, executive director of the Minnesota Board on Aging. “These funds support education and activities that respond to different cultural norms and values as well as both urban and rural populations.”