Dementia Family Caregiver Center (DFCC)

Dementia Family Caregiver Center at UVM Health

The Dementia Family Caregiver Center (DFCC) is dedicated to the care and support of family caregivers. The DFCC provides a pathway to resources for families caring for those with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

At University of Vermont Health, we understand the impact that a memory disorder can have on you and your friends and family. The DFCC provides comprehensive consultations and programming to educate, build skills and support families caring for people with dementia. We help families identify available resources, such as therapeutic caregiver groups and mentoring programs.

Conditions We Support

We provide support to families with loved ones with the following conditions:

Alzheimer’s Disease
Dementia
Parkinson’s Disease with Dementia
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)
Vascular Dementia
Mixed Dementia
Other Cognitive Problems Not Related to Dementia

I didn’t realize what I was doing was caregiving. It was just problem-solving and getting on. This program validated what I was going through and helped me work through my grief.

Caregiver to a Dementia Patient

Resources for Families

Consultations

We offer caregiving consultations to assist in your care of a family member with dementia. Our consultations include dementia education, information about community resources, assistance with issues relating to caregiving, future care planning, grief and loss.

Therapeutic Groups

VT CARERS

VT CARERS (Coaching. Advocacy. Respite. Education. Relationship. Simulation) is an 8-week evidence-based therapeutic group program to enhance the knowledge, skills and competence of informal family caregivers of people with dementia. It is designed to increase understanding of the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia to address caregiver burden. This program is based on the CARERS Program model developed by the Reitman Centre in Toronto, Canada, and is intended for those who have been actively providing intensive care over time.

TEACH

TEACH (Training. Education. Assistance for Caregiving at Home) is a therapeutic, evidence-based group designed for family members who are new to caregiving. This group meets for 90-minute sessions for four consecutive weeks and is led by a trained mental health professional. The program uses a model of supportive interaction, resource sharing and problem-solving. Each week has a unique theme that is central to caregiving for someone with dementia.

Volunteer Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program

The Volunteer Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program matches experienced volunteer caregivers (mentors) with caregivers new to the role (mentees). This program empowers caregivers to thrive in their roles and is available for family caregivers who provide care to a person with dementia living at home. This experience will provide additional support and guidance from someone who understands the challenges caregivers face. Guidance for mentors is available from trained professional coaches. This program is without cost to the caregiver.

TEACH

Resources for Workforce Development

VT BRIDGES (Vermont Broadening Resources in Developing Gerontological Education and Social Work) is a program dedicated to broadening gerontological education in social work in collaboration with the University of Vermont’s Social Work Department and the Center on Aging.

Resources for Medical Professionals

The DFCC serves as a gateway to specialized services, which includes disseminating information, referral for services, and identification of resources to support primary care physicians and their teams across the state. The DFCC collaborates with academic entities, community partners and the Vermont Hub and Spoke Initiative to assist community providers in identifying resources for their patients living with dementia.