Alzheimer’s and dementia programs for caregivers

0

DAYTON—The Alzheimer’s Association Miami Valley Chapter will host several evening programs, both in-person and virtual, throughout the month of October focusing on various aspects of the Alzheimer’s disease journey.

The following programs will be offered free to the community:

Effective Communication Strategies, 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12, on Zoom

Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: Tips from the Latest Research, 7-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, on Zoom

Pre-registration is required. To register for one of these programs, call the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900. Instructions on how to join the webinars will be emailed following registration.

“These programs focus on several important aspects of living with Alzheimer’s disease: learning more about the disease and how it manifests, finding new ways to connect with your loved one at each stage of the disease and discovering how to improve the health of your brain and body as you age to delay or slow the onset of dementia,” said Melissa Dever, programs director for the Alzheimer’s Association Miami Valley Chapter. “For families who are in the early stages of this journey and are feeling uncertain, these programs provide a lot of insight and support.”

During Effective Communication Strategies, attendees will learn about the importance of attitude, tone of voice, facial expressions and body language when communicating with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease. As people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias progress in their journey and the ability to use words is lost, families need new ways to connect.

The program explores how communication takes place when someone has Alzheimer’s, how to decode the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia and identifies strategies to help connect and communicate at each stage of the disease.

Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body will explore the connection between the health of the brain and body, and the latest insights from research about how to make lifestyle choices that may help you keep your brain and body healthy as you age. Join to learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging.

In 2021, there were 421,000 caregivers caring for 220,000 Ohioans aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association “2022 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures.” The number of people living with Alzheimer’s is expected to increase to 250,000 by 2025.

Those concerned about themselves or a loved one can contact the Alzheimer’s Association Miami Valley Chapter office at 937.291.3332 to schedule a care consultation with a social worker who can offer connections to local resources that can help.

About the Alzheimer’s Association:

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Visit www.alz.org or call 800-272-3900.

No posts to display