Dementia Care

JFS COMPASS

DEMENTIA CARE & CAREGIVER SUPPORT

The COMPASS program at Jewish Family Services of Delaware provides high-quality, innovative, holistic dementia care and caregiver support for families throughout Delaware, including highly personalized medical care and an array of support services focused on meeting the psychosocial needs of patients and families experiencing dementia and caregiving.

COMPASS stands for Caring for Older adults with Memory Problems And their Support Systems.

We are continuously evolving to meet the needs of the community and our overarching goal is that families affected by dementia in our community will receive the care and support needed to navigate the challenges they face. We do this with a spirit of service, compassion and joy.

Call 302-757-2112 to speak with a Care Manager and get started with COMPASS.

Already a COMPASS client? Access the portal below:

COMPASS Patient Portal

Join the JFS COMPASS Newsletter to receive news and updates from our team:

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Why choose COMPASS?

Scroll to see what makes our program unique.

Our Interdisciplinary Team:

Led by a geriatrician, the COMPASS team includes social workers, nurses, and other support staff with experience working with older adults and families. Our team works closely with you and your primary care doctors to provide individually tailored, hands-on outpatient care and care management— in-person or through telehealth.
Our Focus on Caregivers:

COMPASS' family-centered approach emphasizes caregiver support, education, and training. We work with each family as you face the challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia—honoring your individual values and preferences—to anticipate and address concerns as they arise.
A Comprehensive Approach:

COMPASS offers a holistic, comprehensive approach to memory care. In addition to medical treatment for cognition and behavior/mood symptoms, we work with you to develop and implement a care plan addressing all of the ways that dementia affects a person's life, including daily activity, safety, and legal/financial issues.

Our Interdisciplinary Team:

Led by a geriatrician, the COMPASS team includes social workers, nurses, and other support staff with experience working with older adults and families. Our team works closely with you and your primary care doctors to provide individually tailored, hands-on outpatient care and care management— in-person or through telehealth.
Our Focus on Caregivers:

COMPASS' family-centered approach emphasizes caregiver support, education, and training. We work with each family as you face the challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia—honoring your individual values and preferences—to anticipate and address concerns as they arise.

Dementia Care

Every person with dementia experiences it differently. COMPASS provides comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of symptoms, and ongoing support to caregivers during all stages of the disease. Together, we work with you and your loved one to develop a personalized plan that offers strategies to address day-to-day issues while promoting well-being.

Our Services
- Initial Diagnostic Visit & Follow-Up Appointments
- Medical Coordination
- Between-Visit Support
- Caregiver Education & Training
- Caregiver Support & Counseling
- Prescribing for dementia & behavioral symptoms, if needed
- Coaching for non-drug approaches to behavioral symptoms
- Assistance for safety concerns, including driving & finances
- Coordination with Community Service Providers
- Help to File for Assistance (if applicable)
- Guidance for Long-Term Planning & End-of-Life Decisions
Eligibility
- Individuals with dementia AND their caregivers are both enrolled in the program
- Patients MUST be accompanied by at least one caregiver for all appointments; additional caregivers and family members are encouraged to participate
- Patients must have a primary care provider
- Individuals can live at home or in a facility
- We accept patients from all over DE and the surrounding region, including PA
- Referrals from family members or professionals are accepted for consideration

Caregiver Support Services

COMPASS also offers an array of caregiver support services, delivered by the COMPASS interdisciplinary care team and closely integrated with the patient's care, or offered as standalone services available to all in the community.

Caregiver Therapy and Support Groups

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Savvy Caregiver – Dementia Caregiver Skills Training Course

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Individual/family counseling for caregivers, persons living with dementia and their families

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Caregiver Therapy and Support Groups

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Savvy Caregiver – Dementia Caregiver Skills Training Course

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Memory Cafe – Social Engagement

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Virtual Lunch & Learn Series

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COMPASS Community Events and Weekly Caregiver Newsletter

Memory Cafe – Social Engagement

Learn More
Virtual Lunch & Learn Series

Learn More

TESTIMONIALS

"I just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU to all at JFS that have made the last few years so much more bearable and easier for me and my family.

The sense of calm and peace I have knowing that all of you are in my corner when I struggle for answers is truly a blessing amidst such a cruel disease."
"I don’t think I could have gotten through these last months without the COMPASS Program! It has been so much help to me.

Dr. D’Souza is the best! She is patient and kind and has come to my aid since the beginning of our relationship with JFS. I really appreciate the COMPASS Program."
"Thank you for everything you all have done for our family. We are so grateful to you!

What I love about COMPASS is the pairing of "wraparound" support and caring with concrete accomplishments (e.g., completion of the DMOST form, driving assessment, respite care, tutoring my husband to use his phone, etc.) Thank you so very much!"

"I just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU to all at JFS that have made the last few years so much more bearable and easier for me and my family.

The sense of calm and peace I have knowing that all of you are in my corner when I struggle for answers is truly a blessing amidst such a cruel disease."
"I don’t think I could have gotten through these last months without the COMPASS Program! It has been so much help to me.

Dr. D’Souza is the best! She is patient and kind and has come to my aid since the beginning of our relationship with JFS. I really appreciate the COMPASS Program."

“Thank you on behalf of all our family for the wonderful, compassionate, wise care you are providing to my husband, and for all the support you are providing our family. As my son said, we have found the perfect service for my husband and me and our family.

We are so grateful to you. Again, it's hard to properly express our family's deep gratitude for the help and support and compassion you all are providing.”
"We so appreciated your expertise, compassion, wisdom, thoughtfulness, and care. The appointment exceeded any expectations that we had.

We have spent years looking for just the services you are offering us. Most importantly, my husband felt so comfortable and valued at the appointment and commented throughout the day about how much he had enjoyed meeting and talking with each of you. My sons join us in thanking you for the gift of this wonderful program."
"My father is amazed at the amount of time your team invests in Mom's care and our concerns. Thank you for all you do to keep communications wide open.

You are a breath of fresh air and a force of energy that keeps us moving towards the best care for Mom! You are pioneering a path that is necessary and appreciated by the patient and valuable (dare I say novel?) to the treating physicians."

“Thank you on behalf of all our family for the wonderful, compassionate, wise care you are providing to my husband, and for all the support you are providing our family. As my son said, we have found the perfect service for my husband and me and our family.

We are so grateful to you. Again, it's hard to properly express our family's deep gratitude for the help and support and compassion you all are providing.”
"We so appreciated your expertise, compassion, wisdom, thoughtfulness, and care. The appointment exceeded any expectations that we had.

We have spent years looking for just the services you are offering us. Most importantly, my husband felt so comfortable and valued at the appointment and commented throughout the day about how much he had enjoyed meeting and talking with each of you. My sons join us in thanking you for the gift of this wonderful program."

Meet the COMPASS Team:

Maria A.

Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, COMPASS | MSN, GNP, ACHPN, MJ

Maria D.

Geriatrician and Medical Director, COMPASS | MD, MPH

Kate G.

Care Manager, COMPASS

Maria A.

Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, COMPASS | MSN, GNP, ACHPN, MJ

Maria D.

Geriatrician and Medical Director, COMPASS | MD, MPH

Kate G.

Care Manager, COMPASS

Emily B.

Therapist | LCSW, MSW

Laura D.

Therapist, Fellowship Program | LMSW, MSW

Barb H.

Therapist, Fellowship Program | MSS, LMSW

Geoffrey L.

Mental Health Therapist | LCSW

Emily B.

Therapist | LCSW, MSW

Laura D.

Therapist, Fellowship Program | LMSW, MSW

Barb H.

Therapist, Fellowship Program | MSS, LMSW

Geoffrey L.

Mental Health Therapist | LCSW

JFS COMPASS

DEMENTIA CARE & CAREGIVER SUPPORT

Why choose COMPASS?

Scroll to see what makes our program unique.

Our Interdisciplinary Team:

Our Focus on Caregivers:

A Comprehensive Approach:

Our Interdisciplinary Team:

Our Focus on Caregivers:

Our Services

Eligibility

Caregiver Support Services

Caregiver Therapy and Support Groups

Savvy Caregiver – Dementia Caregiver Skills Training Course

Individual/family counseling for caregivers, persons living with dementia and their families

Caregiver Therapy and Support Groups

Savvy Caregiver – Dementia Caregiver Skills Training Course

Memory Cafe – Social Engagement

Virtual Lunch & Learn Series

COMPASS Community Events and Weekly Caregiver Newsletter

Memory Cafe – Social Engagement

Virtual Lunch & Learn Series

TESTIMONIALS

Meet the COMPASS Team: