Person With Dementia Support Group Facilitator - St. Paul

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Position Summary

Person With Dementia (PWD) Support Group Facilitators create a safe, open environment where people with MCI & early-stage dementia share their feelings, thoughts and experiences in a combined effort to better cope with and manage the shared problems of dementia. The goal of Alzheimer's Association support groups is to provide emotional, social and/or educational support to group members. As facilitators, individuals may be responsible for general caregiver, person with dementia, adult children, spouse, gender-specific or language-specific groups.

Qualifications

• Ability to be empathic and separate personal needs from group needs.
• Strong listening and effective communication skills.
• Ability to redirect and facilitate discussion as well as fulfill the duties and responsibilities as described in the Facilitator Agreement.
• Ability to create and maintain a safe environment where participants’ thoughts and feelings are valued and group members are treated with fairness, equity and respect.
• Commitment to promote the mission and services of the Association and willingness to act as an extension of the Association.
• Experience with dementia as a family member or health care professional preferred.

Responsibilities

• Follow Person With Dementia Support Group structure as identified by the Alzheimer’s Association, including initial screening of potential attendees and ongoing evaluation.
  • The Alzheimer’s Association will provide a structure for the group to ensure that the group remains a good fit for all attendees as the disease progresses.
  • Facilitator is responsible for screening, educating attendees about structure, and implementing the program as identified by the Alzheimer’s Association.
• Facilitating safe and supportive support groups
  • Develop meeting time/schedule and ground rules
  • Set up, arrange and prepare the room before and after each group.
  • Begin each meeting with a welcome to new members, introductions and discussion of ground rules and meeting purpose
  • Create a safe atmosphere
  • Encourage participants to provide assistance and emotional support to one another.
  • Present pertinent Association materials and information to group members.

• Connect members of the community with additional Association services by proactively making referrals to Alzheimer's Association programs & free 24/7 Helpline.

• Collaborating with the Alzheimer’s Association chapter staff
  • Work collaboratively with the Metro MN Program Manager and regional program staff if applicable
  • Follow expectations and recommendations of the Caregiver Support Group Facilitator Manual, including participation in initial & ongoing training and completion and submission of all necessary group attendance paperwork to Metro MN Program Manager.
  • Coordinate any speakers/presenters with local chapter staff.
  • Notify the Metro MN Program Manager if there will be a change in group leadership, date/time, location, or decision to continue your group

Commitment Expected

• Support Group Facilitators commit to a 1-year term delivering a monthly group. Terms are renewable upon successful completion of annual goal-setting conversation with your staff partner.
• Orientation includes: online general volunteer orientation (1 hour) + program volunteer orientation (1 hour) + self-study or in-person role training with staff partner (~4 hours).
• Support Group facilitators must observe 1 group in the community led by a staff or mentor plus review facilitation skills with a staff partner prior to deployment in the community.
• Background checks are required as part of the volunteer selection process.
• Comply with Alzheimer’s Association volunteer policies and procedures.
• Participate in initial training and ongoing education about Alzheimer’s, dementia and the Alzheimer's Association.