Savvy Caregiver is nationally recognized as a leading evidence-based dementia family caregiver training program.
Savvy programs provide the most relevant dementia knowledge, skills, and mastery to support family members caring for their relative or friend living with dementia. Savvy Caregiver programs are proven to increase participants’ sense of competence and confidence in their care role, while lowering family caregiver distress, burden, and depression.
Savvy Caregiver workshops are person-centered and present easy to understand but proven dementia knowledge and skills through discussion, videos, and group exercises. Family members learn strategies to ensure their own self-care as well as enhance day-to-day time with their person.
The vast majority of daily long-term care is provided by family members for persons living in the community. Savvy Caregiver programs offer an array of programs across the U.S. Culturally-sensitive adaptations and translations continue to be developed to better serve families in diverse communities.
Savvy Caregiver workshops were originally developed and validated for in-person, community-based delivery in 6 weekly sessions. In-person classes remain the most popular format, but many sites also deliver Savvy virtually via group conferencing platforms, such as Zoom®. Savvy Caregiver Express presents material through a 3-week format, and Savvy Caregiver Advanced presents content focused on later-stage dementia caregiving issues. All of the Savvy programs provide easy-to-understand information, skills, and strategies so that family caregivers can deal more effectively with the demands of dementia caregiving.
In every format, each Savvy session uses a combination of instruction, interactive exercises, and home assignments for participants to learn Savvy concepts and apply them to their own caregiving situations. Savvy’s goal is for family caregivers to feel confident and competent in their care role so that they can make the most of their time with their person who is living with dementia.
Savvy Caregiver was created at the University of Minnesota and originally published/copyrighted in 2002. Its content and materials have since been adapted and translated by research teams at Emory University and other collaborating organizations.
All Savvy Caregiver programs are copyrighted and trademarked. As such, all Savvy program content and materials must be used under license and with permission. Savvy content is not public domain or “open source” material, even when funded by state or federal grants. Since 2006, University of Minnesota has assessed licensing fees on select Savvy programs. Since 2021, Savvy Systems, LLC manages all licensing of Savvy Caregiver.
The Savvy Caregiver core curriculum, originally developed and validated in 2002, was revised and updated in 2020, and remains the foundation of all other Savvy versions.
Savvy content focuses on knowledge of dementia diseases, the impacts on elements of cognition, the role of confusion in dementia, caregiver self-care,and identifying the person’s current stage of disease. Using this knowledge, caregivers can apply strategies for providing appropriate structure and support of daily activities, decision making, and expanding family support and community resources. Through weekly home practice, participating caregivers practice and apply their new skills to meet their family’s specific needs and situation.
Beginning July 1, 2021, any use or implementation of Savvy Caregiver content or materials in any format must be licensed
The original and most widely delivered version of Savvy Caregiver® is an in-person, small-group program typically held over 6 weekly sessions.
Savvy Caregiver® Express is a condensed version of the original Savvy program, typically held over 3 weekly sessions instead of 6 weekly sessions.
Savvy Caregiver® Advanced includes added focus on later-stage choices and end-of-life decisions. The program is held over 4 weekly sessions.
New! A new Spanish translation of the original Savvy Caregiver® Manual for Caregivers is now available to all certified Savvy Caregiver Foundational Group Leaders! Simply log in to your Savvy Caregiver account, and navigate to the Savvy Foundational Download page.
Are you conducting research or receiving grant funding with Savvy Caregiver? To make legal use of Savvy programs, content, or materials, all academic grants, grant-funded, or research studies, or projects must be licensed.
Thank you for your interest in Savvy Caregiver!
Since 2001, federal and foundation funding enabled state and regional social service agencies and organizations to provide Savvy Caregiver programs to tens of thousands of caregivers across the U.S. Savvy programs expand family caregivers’ knowledge of dementia, its progression, and the strategic skills required in the caregiving role. Savvy family caregivers feel more confident, competent, and equipped to manage daily life with their person living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Savvy Systems is your home for many of the evidence-based adapted versions of Savvy Caregiver, such as the original Savvy Caregiver, Savvy Caregiver Advanced, Savvy Caregiver Express, and language translations.
Together, as an original Savvy co-author and a long-time developer of interactive Savvy content, we bring 40+ years of combined expertise in program implementation, dissemination, fidelity, and sustainability to Savvy Systems. We are inspired by the dedicated work by organizations and individuals to provide Savvy Caregiver programs to family caregivers.
As your partner for Savvy Caregiver programs, we are here to help support you, your family, or organization. Thank you for your commitment to better dementia care, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Carey and John
Carey Wexler Sherman, PhD
Principal and Co-Director
University of Minnesota assigned worldwide licensing rights to Savvy Systems, LLC in 2021. As the authorized licensee, Savvy Systems is committed to ensuring the sustainability, accessibility, and fidelity of Savvy Caregiver programs to enhance family members’ caregiving experiences through knowledge, skills, and mastery. It provides the latest versions of Savvy Caregiver materials, and manages licensing and copyright adherence.
Savvy Systems, LLC is a woman-owned small business based in Minneapolis, MN.
