Four senior centers in Allegheny County are collaborating on a new dementia-support model designed to better serve people experiencing cognitive changes and their caregivers.
The Jewish Community Center locations in Squirrel Hill and the South Hills, Riverview Community Action Corporation in Oakmont, and Vintage Center for Active Adults in East Liberty will help gather input from caregivers and staff to identify needs and service gaps that will shape the model. They will also serve as pilot sites where the model is developed and tested with at least 125 caregivers.
The project plans to hold its first listening session before the end of November, seeking input from current and former family caregivers, senior-center participants and staff about what support families need and what senior centers need to better serve them.
Senior centers already serve as trusted community gathering places for older adults and families. The project will test whether that existing connection can also make dementia education, resource navigation, and caregiver support easier to access outside traditional clinical settings.
“As trusted organizations, senior centers play a critical role in supporting older adults. They know the people and they understand the needs of the population they serve,” said Dr. Shannah Gilliam, Director of Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging. “With some additional training and support around dementia, senior centers could really extend the reach and the impact of their work.”
Senior center leaders involved in the project say they already encounter people experiencing cognitive impairment, but staff do not currently have the specialized knowledge and skills to address dementia-related needs. The project will train staff while developing caregiver education and help navigating available resources, giving families another place to find dementia-informed guidance and connections to services.
“Life doesn’t teach anyone how to become a dementia caregiver,” said Amy Kowinsky, Executive Director of Dementia360 at Presbyterian SeniorCare Network. “Our goals are to help caregivers feel more confident and supported while also preparing senior center staff to better serve older adults experiencing cognitive changes and their families.”
Kowinsky said the project will bring together caregiver feedback, the strengths of senior centers, and proven caregiver-support practices to develop a practical, community-based model that responds to what caregivers say they need most.
The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work will help design, implement and evaluate the model. University researchers will evaluate whether the resulting model improves caregiver competence and well-being and whether it can be successfully adopted in senior center settings.
“Family caregivers need support, and we are working with senior centers to design and test a program that gives caregivers real, practical support alongside the person they are caring for,” said Dr. Quinton Cotton, a University of Pittsburgh gerontologist. “By engaging the community directly in the design process, we can build something that reflects the realities, needs, and priorities of family caregivers."
The three-year initiative began in June and runs through May 2029, as follows:
- Year 1: Caregiver surveys, listening sessions and input from senior center staff and experts to identify needs and design the model;
- Year 2: Pilot testing, engaging caregivers, and monitoring early outcomes; and
- Year 3: Continued delivery and extended follow-up to measure caregiver outcomes using validated tools.
Partners include Dementia360, a program of Presbyterian SeniorCare Network; the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work; Jewish Community Center; Riverview Community Action Corporation; Vintage Center for Active Adults; and Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging.
The project is funded through a grant from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation and is designed to create more equitable access to trusted dementia information, education, and support for older adults and their families.
About Presbyterian SeniorCare Network
Presbyterian SeniorCare Network serves more than 7,500 older adults and their families through in-home and community-based programs across 10 Western Pennsylvania counties. Dementia360, a program of Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, provides person-centered dementia support, education, and resources to individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. Through expert guidance and community partnerships, Dementia360 helps families navigate the challenges of dementia while promoting dignity, independence, and quality of life. To learn more, please visit their website.