Services

The Duke Dementia Family Support Program provides education, support and engagement opportunities to individuals living with dementia and their families. Services are free of charge and no affiliation with Duke Health is required. Our services are available by phone, email, Zoom or in-person. 

Click here to view and share our brochure with families and professionals.

 

Dementia Consultations

Our team can assist with:

• Understanding the basics of dementia
• Identifying necessary steps after a diagnosis
• Discussing strategies for symptom management
• Connecting families to community resources
• Coping with the emotional impact of the disease

 

Education

We offer:

• Caregiver Connections – Live monthly webinars with the experts
• What’s Next: Middle-Stage Workshop
• Monthly Triangle Area E-Newsletter
• Memory Makers: Early-Stage Educational Support Group

Memory Makers, a six-week group, is designed for couples or dyads to jointly participate. The dyad is comprised of the person diagnosed with cognitive impairment and their primary care partner (such as a spouse, partner, adult child, friend). As an early-stage educational program, it is required that the individual living with changes in memory and thinking be able to talk about the changes they are noticing, have insight about how it impacts them, and share how they’re coping.

If you are interested in learning more, please reach out by email  or call our mainline 919-660-7510.

 

Social Engagement Opportunities

Staying connection:

• Monthly tours with the Nasher Museum of Art
• TimeSlips – virtual creative storytelling program

 

Project C.A.R.E.

Project C.A.R.E. (Caregiver Alternatives to Running on Empty) a state-funded program, is available to eligible North Carolina families.

• Consultations on caring for a person with dementia and referral to local supports and services
• Limited short-term respite care vouchers
• We serve Central NC Counties: Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Guilford, Johnston, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Vance, Wake and Warren

 

Ongoing Support

Master’s-level social workers facilitate:

• A variety of tailored support groups
• Short-term supportive counseling
• One-on-one support

 

Duke Employee Elder Care Consultation Service

Available to any Duke employee or family member concerned about an older adult:

• Does not need to be dementia related
• Confidential consultations regarding elder care concerns or decisions

 

For All of the Above Services, Contact:

Bobbi G. Matchar, MSW, MHA, 919-660-7509 or bobbi.matchar@duke.edu

Cornelia Poer, MSW, LCSW, 919-660-8280, cornelia.poer@duke.edu

Janeli McNeal, MSW, 919-660-7565 or janeli.mcneal@duke.edu

Natalie Leary, MSW, LCSW, 919-660-7542 or natalie.leary@duke.edu

Rebecca Bratsch, MSW, 919-660-7508 or rebecca.bratsch@duke.edu