Target audience

Professionals attending the 16th Annual Alzheimer's Association Dementia Care Conference may include administrators in nursing homes, assisted living and other residential settings; nurses; directors of nursing; Alzheimer unit coordinators; staff development leaders and other trainers; psychologists; counselors; social workers; activity and program directors; physical, occupational, music and art therapists; adult day care professionals; and others involved in the care of persons with dementia.

Nurses

An application for approval of this educational activity for continuing education contact hours will be submitted to the Illinois Nurses Association and the California Board of Nursing. The Illinois Nurses Association is an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Nursing home administrators

An application to become a National Continuing Education Review Service (NCERS) Sponsor will be submitted to the National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators (NAB). There are 46 licensing authorities that accept NCERS programs. (Contact nab@bostrom.com for additional information.)

Psychologists

The Alzheimer's Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Alzheimer's Association maintains responsibility for this program and its contents.

Counselors and therapists

An application for continuing education approval will be submitted to the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Social workers and family therapists

An application for approval of this educational activity for continuing education will be submitted to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). The NASW CE Approval Program is endorsed by 39 licensing boards. (Refer to www.socialworkers.org/ce/approval.asp for further information.) In addition, an application to become a provider of continuing education for Licensed Clinical Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists will be submitted to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Obtaining continuing education

Before registering for continuing education credit, check with your licensing board to verify that they will accept the credits available, as requirements vary. Sign up for continuing education credit when you register for the conference at www.alz.org/careconference/08/registration.asp. The fee is $40 for each certificate. When you arrive at the registration area at the conference, pick up a Continuing Education Packet at the Continuing Education Desk, complete the attendance form and an evaluation for each session you claim for credit. Return the completed forms to the Continuing Education Desk when you depart or mail them as instructed.

Statement of need, purpose and objective

The 16th Annual Alzheimer's Association Dementia Care Conference is organized to foster interdisciplinary interactions among health care, clinical, administrative and research professionals concerned with aging and Alzheimer's disease. In addition to the core plenary sessions, symposia, and education sessions, poster sessions will be presented to provide an open, interactive learning forum on a variety of dementia topics.

There is a recognized need to provide this educational information to geriatric health care professionals in order to optimize care of the elderly. There are currently over five million persons in the U.S. diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and the number is expected to increase as the "baby boomers" age.

Learning objectives

At the conclusion of this conference, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the most current and innovative dementia care practices for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias throughout the course of the disease
• Discuss new knowledge and research in best care practice approaches to providing professional home care, community-based services, and acute and long-term care for persons with dementia
• Discern potential implications of the latest social and behavioral research on practice in both community- and residential-based care settings
• Apply current recommendations on innovative evidence-based best practice techniques to the needs of persons with dementia and those of their caregivers
• Identify strategies for providing relevant professional education on dementia care research, practice and ethical implications