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National Council on Aging logo. We believe every person deserves to age well. That’s why we’re on a path to improve the lives of 40 million older adults by 2030.

Evidence-Based Program: REACH Community

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 with telehealth equipment, if available.

  • 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, who can include Coaches, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Trained Care Consultants, Nurses, Social Workers/Mental Health Therapists
  • 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: Remote, 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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