Community support for Alzheimer's caregivers
For five consecutive years, the Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation has awarded community benefits grants to the Alzheimer’s Family Support Center. Why?
“They’re a great organization,” said Kriste Hancock, development and community benefits associate for the Foundation.
“Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are extremely prevalent on Cape Cod. The Cape’s 65+ population (as a percentage) is nearly twice that of the state,” she said.
The grant has been well received at the support center.
“We are very grateful for the support of Cape Cod Healthcare,” said Molly Perdue, PhD, co-founder and executive director of the support center. “For the last three years, it has allowed us to run a free virtual dementia conference, led by a nationally acclaimed instructor, occupational therapist Teepa Snow. Last year we had 6,000 people sign up.”
People from across the nation participated, but the majority were from Plymouth and Barnstable counties, she said.
The 2025 grant of $10,000 finances a teleconference to teach caregivers, family members and health professionals how to deal with difficult dementia behaviors and is free to participants, Perdue said. Health professionals can earn free CEUs (continuing education credits) by participating; similar training by Snow can cost $100-150 per person, Perdue said. The conference will be held this year from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 5 and interested people will be able to register through the center’s website.
How Does the Foundation Award Grants?
Every three years, the program performs a health needs assessment of the Cape Cod community, and applications must meet those current health needs, said Hancock. Decisions are made by a board composed of 21 community leaders, she said.
“They (grant recipients) can be awarded up to $30,000,” she said.
The program used to attract about 15-16 applications a year, but now draws more than 50. The Foundation gave away a total of $300,000 for this year.
“More groups have heard about us,” she said.
Grant applications are sought via a request for proposals in late summer, and applications are made online. The winners and amounts given are based upon a ranking system. Grant awards for the coming year are announced in December. In November, recipients must file a report with the foundation detailing how they spent the funds.
“The committee likes to give to as many groups as they can, Hancock said.
Dementia Services Expand
The annual conference is just one of many free services the Alzheimer’s Family Support Center offers. It operates support groups in each of the Cape’s 15 towns, provides respite care for caregivers and on-site programs for people living with cognitive loss, gives training and advice to caregivers, and organizes events for affected people and their caregivers and families, including visits to area museums and cultural centers, plus concerts, art classes, informational talks and demonstrations, many provided both online and in person.
“Social engagement programs for people dealing with cognitive loss can come and interact,” Perdue said. “All of this we do free of charge.”
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the AFSC to stop all in-person activities at its Brewster headquarters and operate only online, but since then, the organization rebounded by resuming social engagement programs at their new location at the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis.
The organization has extended its reach by providing programs at the Plymouth and Duxbury Centers for Active Living, and offering free transportation to qualified people to social engagement programs at the Duxbury, Plymouth and mall sites. These programs allow people with dementia to join in activities with others while giving their caregivers some time for themselves.
Registration Required
To participate in these programs, people must first register, “so we know who you are,” Perdue said. “Our only request is that the caregiver has a cellphone, in case of emergency.”
The Duxbury and Plymouth sites are in their second year of operation. Free transportation is provided via 10-passenger van with a wheelchair lift.
“These programs are so important to the community – there’s never enough of them,” Perdue said. “I’ve never heard from a caregiver, ‘I’ve received too much help. I’m good.’”
CCHC Support
Community collaboration for Alzheimer’s patients and their family members and friends is an important part of offering the widest array of support services. Learn more about what Cape Cod Healthcare has to offer by visiting the Dementia & Alzheimer's Support page.
