The Kaleidoscope began with one woman remembering the loneliness of caring for her father and wanting something different for other families walking a similar path.
The Kaleidoscope began with one woman remembering the loneliness of caring for her father and wanting something different for other families walking a similar path.
In February 2024, a group at Abundant Life Reformed Church was gathered together discerning how the church could better support the community. One of our elders, Cheryl Cohen, shared her experience caring for her father through Alzheimer’s disease.
What she remembered most was the loneliness. People often responded with pity or discomfort and slowly disappeared. But alongside the hard moments, she also experienced deep connection, love, humor, and beauty with her dad. Both things existed together, yet there were very few places that truly understood how to hold space for both.
She wanted to help create a place that could.
For months we threw names around. Nothing captured what we wanted to be — until someone said “kaleidoscope,” and the room got quiet.
"We needed a name that said no to the tragedy narrative of inevitable decline, in which the afflicted person steadily disappears. We want to flip that story on its head. Our loved ones are not gone before they are gone. They are very much alive. There is still joy, humor, compassion, and life to be lived. Each moment in the dementia journey is painting a beautiful picture to behold — like a kaleidoscope does with each turn of the wheel. But like a kaleidoscope, you need light to see it. Our hope is to help care partners find that light."
That is the philosophy that shapes every gathering, every conversation, every choice we make about how to welcome people through our doors.
January 2025. Two care partners and their spouses. That was the first Connection Café.
We had no idea what we were doing. We knew there was a need — but we had no idea how great the need was. We learned quickly.
One year in, we’ve served more than 1,200 individuals. We have folks coming from every corner of Bergen County, as well as parts of Passaic County, Hudson County, and Rockland County in New York. Medical professionals and adult day care facilities are referring people. We are now a resource in northern New Jersey for Care2Caregivers, the free peer-support helpline for dementia caregivers provided by Rutgers’ University Behavioral Health Care.
The Kaleidoscope is led jointly by Rev. Keith Moody and Maureen Braen, CPXP, CDP,PAC CDE/L, CMDCP, CDSGF, CADDCT — a credentialed dementia specialist, who moderates our support sessions and educational series.
We are deeply indebted to Marlene Ceragno, Vivian Korner Green, Cary Lopez, Rachel Rebich, Kerry Sherer, and Dr. St. Rachel Ustanny for their time and priceless guidance during our first year.
The Kaleidoscope Dementia Resource Center is a nonprofit organization with a pending application for federal tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to offer lasting connection, education, and support for individuals and families navigating change.
The first step is the hardest one to take. Almost everyone who walks through our door tells us they wish they had come sooner. There is no shame in dementia — and there is no judgment here.
There is a place for you here.
