9:30-10 a.m.

Registration

10-11 a.m.

Opening Session

Ann Davidson, Author

Ann Davidson's husband, Julian, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's when he was 59; she was 53. Shortly after diagnosis Julian said, "Soon I'll be a weird person who can't talk... a person nobody wants." Then he added, "I know where I'm headed... but please... let's be happy in the rest of our life."

Davidson took up this challenge, caring for Julian for 12 years, six at home and six more in a care center. In this presentation, she tells their story, and describes how they slowly learned to minimize sadness and despair, and to live with Alzheimer's with happiness and joy.

Her memoir Alzheimer's: A Love Story describes the second to third year of their Alzheimer's journey. Her second memoir, A Curious Kind of Widow, tells the story of the difficult decision to place Julian in residential care, and their adjustment to this new situation. Ten years into his Alzheimer's diagnosis, when he spoke mainly gibberish, Julian looked into her eyes one day and said clearly, "I'm okay, really okay. Now you be okay, too."

11:15 a.m.-noon

Talking With and Listening To the Person With Dementia

Anna Ortigara, Vice President for Culture Change, Life Services Network

As people experience Alzheimer's disease they often have more difficulty communicating. Word finding, understanding directions and carrying out daily tasks becomes increasingly more challenging. As words start to fail, the person may express him or herself through actions and nonverbal messages. As family members we need to understand the changes and support communication in all the ways we can. This session will explore the changes and propose many strategies for keeping communication open.

12-1:15 p.m.

Lunch and Exhibit Hall

1:15-2 p.m.

Alzheimer's-proofing Your Home: Creating a Safe Living Space

Mark Warner, Ageless Design

This presentation will introduce ideas, strategies and products to make your home safer and easier to care for a loved one with dementia. Topics will address safe, danger and respite zones of the home, wandering and ways to alert the caregiver, as well as common environmental mistakes.

2:15-3:15 p.m.

What are My Options? Accessing Appropriate Dementia Care

Elizabeth Gould, Associate Director of Clinical Care, Alzheimer's Association National Office

David Parris, Contact Center Team Lead, Alzheimer's Association National Office

Eve Stern, President, SNAP for Seniors

It's not always obvious when to ask for help or when to make changes to the care that the person with dementia is getting. Persons with dementia and family members want to be prepared for the changes caused by Alzheimer's disease and other disorders and to understand their options.

This workshop will help you in planning and making the right care decisions based on your particular situation. Participants will learn to recognize good dementia care; the difference between different care options; how to communicate effectively with care providers; how to plan for care; and how to identify local care and support resources.

3:15-3:45 p.m.

Beverage Break in
Exhibit Hall

3:45-4:30 p.m.

Closing Session

Understanding the Science of Alzheimer’s Disease

Neelum Aggarwal, M.D., Rush University Medical Center