Virginia Wesson

Care partners are vital to dementia care, yet the role is challenging and can lead to physical, psychological, financial and social consequences that can lead to care partner burn out. Supporting them is essential.  

To address this, we developed the Cyril & Dorothy, Joel & Jill Reitman Centre for Alzheimer’s Support and Training at Sinai Health (the Reitman Program). This program offers multicomponent interventions to improve care partners’ wellbeing, functioning and coping skills through clinical assessment, individual support and evidence-based group interventions.  

Recognizing the need, we expanded the Reitman Program to 14 sites across Ontario through the Enhancing Care for Ontario Care Partners Program (the EC Program), training mental health clinicians to deliver it.

The EC Program includes two group interventions: CARERS (Coaching Advocacy Respite Education Relationship Simulation) and TEACH (Training Education and Assistance for Caregiving at Home) Programs.

CARERS is an 8-week evidence-based small group intervention teaching care partners problem solving techniques, communication skills with simulation-based coaching, and strategies for keeping a meaningful relationship with the person living with dementia.

TEACH is a 4-week skills-based intervention addressing self-care, healthcare system navigation, relationship changes and future planning.

Participation significantly reduces care partner burden, depression, anxiety and isolation while improving autonomy, mastery, and physical health. It helps sustain care partners in their essential role, reduces burnout, and may delay institutionalization and service use. Our aim always is to offer flexible compassionate evidence-based solutions that enhance quality of life for care partners and those they support.