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We offer several educational programs for families and individuals facing Alzheimer’s, as well as community members. Most of these programs, described below, are free of charge.
Family caregiver series
We offer numerous, programs for interested individuals, family caregivers and persons living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Trained presenters will conduct these programs in any setting where at least five individuals are gathered. Each workshop consists of a formal presentation, interactive activities and follow-up materials.
• Alzheimer’s 101 -A one-hour, interactive program that will help you better understand the basics of normal aging vs. Alzheimer’s disease. Appropriate Audience - Anyone who is interested in, but has little knowledge about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
• KEYS -A 41/2 hour, interactive program that will help you to better understand Alzheimer’s Disease and give you tips on how to manage some common communication and behavior issues. This is presented as one ½ day session or three 90-minute sessions. Appropriate Audience - Friends and family members who care for and/or interact with people who have Alzheimer’s disease.
• Maintain Your Brain® - A one-hour, interactive discussion about brain-healthy behaviors and how to manage some of the risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Appropriate Audience - Anyone who is interested in learning about brain health. Note: There is a small fee to cover class materials.
• Strategies – A six session, nuts-and-bolts program for people with Early Stage Alzheimer’s; it covers issues such as memory loss, communication, difficult tasks, safety, driving, developing a support network, healthy life style, medical care, meaningful activities, advocacy, and humor. Appropriate Audience – Persons with Early Stage Alzheimer’s and their care partners.
• Medications and Alternative Therapies A one-hour discussion designed to help you better understand available therapies for AD, including an overview of the drugs currently on the market and those in clinical testing, as well as the efficacy of alternative therapies, such as music therapy, aromatherapy, touch therapy, and pet therapy. Appropriate Audience - Anyone who is interested in learning more about this topic.
• Can You Hear Me Now? A one-hour overview of the key advocacy issues surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, including tips for how you can get involved. Appropriate Audience-Anyone who is interested in learning more about this topic.
• Some Time For You - A 90-minute, interactive discussion about reducing caregiver stress, including a section on managing negative feelings. Appropriate Audience –Friends and family members who care for people who have Alzheimer’s disease.
• Validation Theory and Therapeutic Fibbing – A 90-minute, interactive discussion about how to use validation therapy to enter in to the world of a person with Alzheimer’s disease. Your loved one may not be able to come back and live in your reality, but you can take trips into hers/his. Appropriate Audience –Friends and family members who care for and/or interact with people who have Alzheimer’s disease.
• Laughter Is The Best Medicine - A one-hour, interactive program discussing how humor can help ease stress and improve almost any situation. Appropriate Audience –Friends and family members who care for and/or interact with people who have Alzheimer’s disease.
• Practical Approaches to Activities of Daily Living- A one-hour interactive program discussing ways to make activities of daily living, such as bathing, eating, and dressing easier. Appropriate Audience Friends and family members who care for and/or interact with people who have Alzheimer’s disease.
• Is Your Home Safe? A one-hour discussion about how to make your home and the environment of your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease as safe as possible. . Appropriate Audience –Friends and family members who care for and/or interact with people who have Alzheimer’s disease.
• Meaningful Activities –A one-hour interactive program discussing activities that can be enjoyed by you and your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Appropriate Audience –Friends and family members who care for and/or interact with people who have Alzheimer’s disease.
• Partnering With Your Doctor® - A one-hour discussion about how to make your doctor visits as satisfying and productive as possible. Appropriate Audience –People with early stage AD as well as, friends and family members who care for and/or interact with people who have Alzheimer’s disease.
• Transition into Nursing Care - A one-hour discussion about how to help your loved one adjust to a residential facility and ideas for making your subsequent visits as meaningful as possible. Appropriate Audience –Friends and family members who care for and/or interact with people who have AD.
• Happy Holidays - A one-hour discussion about how to better manage responsibilities during the busy holiday season so that the experience can be as positive as possible for you and your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Appropriate Audience –Friends and family members who care for and/or interact with people who have Alzheimer’s disease.
• When It’s Not Alzheimer’s - A one-hour overview of the other dementias and their course of treatment. Appropriate Audience- Anyone who is interested in learning more about this topic.
• Alzheimer’s Awareness for Kids – A 45-minute school or church based presentation about Alzheimer’s disease, what happens to the person with AD, and how kids can maintain their relationships. Appropriate Audience – Secondary and High School Aged Children; may be combined with fund-raising activities.
For further information about these programs – including scheduling – please call 518-438-2217. Unless otherwise noted, the costs of Family Education Programs have been underwritten by the generous donations of people living in the NENY region and/or local grants.
