Key Takeaways

  • Provide a proven dementia caregiving behavioral intervention focused on safety, caregiver health and emotional well-being, and behavior management. 

REACH Community has been shown to decrease burden, depressive symptoms, the impact of depressive symptoms on daily life, the potential for abuse as measured by caregiving frustrations, and the number of troubling dementia related behaviors reported. For REACH Community, a certified Program Coach provides individual sessions to the caregiver. Sessions are targeted, by a risk assessment of each caregiver, and structured through protocols and scripts. There are:

  • 4 Active Phase core sessions
  • Optional additional sessions if needed
  • Maintenance sessions if caregiver requests

Sessions can be conducted either face-to-face (home or facility), by telephone, or telehealth equipment if available.

Additional topics include caregiver support, problem solving, stress management, mood management, and communication.

Note: Track health promotion program guidance during COVID-19 regularly for updates to program implementation and training options. Programs traditionally implemented in-person may be temporarily allowable by telephone or online.

  • Target audience: Caregivers of Persons living with Dementia
  • Health outcomes:
    • Caregiver Burden Outcome
    • Caregiver Depression Outcome
    • Caregiver Frustrations Outcome
    • Effect of depression on daily life
  • Delivered by: Trained Lay Leader/Facilitator, Coach, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Trained Care Consultant, Nurse, Social Worker/Mental Health Therapist
  • Program type: Individual
  • Format: In-Person at Home, In-Person in Community, Telephone
  • Length: 4 one-hour core sessions, completed within a time frame set by Program Coach and the caregiver. Two-three months is common time frame
  • Training: Online, REACH Community training is 3.5 hours (webinar/video conference format). For certification, staff must complete an additional 1-hour role play session
  • Professional required: No
  • Accessibility adaptations available: No
  • Cultural adaptations available: Yes
  • Available in languages other than English: N/A
  • Topic(s):
    • Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia

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