Family Education Workshops
(For All Family Members)

July 2011 through June 2012

Springfield, MO    Alzheimer’s Association, 1630 W. Elfindale - 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
July 13  --  Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease                     
August 10  --  Understanding Alzheimer’s/Partnering With Your Doctor            
September 14  --  Know The 10 Warning Signs                                   
October 12  --  Telling Other About The Diagnosis/Caring for Family & Friends
November 9  --  Daily Strategies & Coping With Changes                     
December 14  --  Safety First                                                                  
January 11  --  Behavior & Communication                                          
February 8  --  Alzheimer’s & Medication           
March 14  --  Legal Matters                    
April 11  --  Brain Chi – Martial Arts For Your Brain     
May 9  --  Understanding Alzheimer’s/Partnering With Your Doctor  
June 13  --  Know The 10 Warning Signs      

Joplin, MO      United Way Building, 3510 E. 3rd St - 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
July 21  --  Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease                  
August 18  --  Understanding Alzheimer’s / Partnering With Your Doctor  
September 22  --  Know The 10 Warning Signs      
October 20  --  Telling Other About The Diagnosis/Caring for Family & Friends 
November 17  --  Daily Strategies & Coping With Changes     
December 15  --  Safety First             
January 19  --  Behavior & Communication      
February 16  --  Alzheimer’s & Medication               
March 15  --  Legal Matters        
April 21  --  Brain Chi – Martial Arts For Your Brain                  
May 17  --  Understanding Alzheimer’s/Partnering With Your Doctor   
June 21  --  Know The 10 Warning Signs     

Light Refreshments will be Served         

Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: This two hour course provides basic information that everyone needs to know about memory loss. We will explore what are normal age related memory changes, what is dementia, what are reversible and irreversible dementias, and an examination of Alzheimer’s disease and some of the 10 warning signs.         

Understanding Memory Loss & Partnering With Your Doctor: In week two, the topic is “Aging, Memory Loss, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. There is quite a bit of material to help families and a person with dementia understand the disease and its effect on the brain. Developing a working relationship with your doctor is a very important part of managing your illness. It can take some time.
However, it is very important that your doctor gets to know you
                  
Know the 10 Warning Signs:  People who attend the Know the 10 Signs Workshop will view video footage that addresses fears and myths associated with dementia.  Individuals featured in the films included real people who are living with the early stages of dementia and their families discussing the following key topics: The 10 Warning signs, Basic overview of Alzheimer’s disease, Benefits of early detection including accessing available treatment, planning for the future and participating in clinical trials

Telling Others About The Diagnosis & Family and Friends - Our Important Relationships:  When you learn that you have Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, you may not believe it, or you may feel overwhelmed, confused or angry. You may be hesitant to tell your family and friends about your diagnosis due to concerns about how they will react. You may not want sympathy or help, but you may want the people that you are close to know because you care about them.                                        

Daily Strategies & Coping With Changes / Opportunities for Supporting Research:  This topic will cover several strategies for coping with Alzheimer’s You are learning about your disease and about what you can and cannot do. You may feel worried, angry or sad. We will talk about these feelings, how to cope with them, and knowing that these feelings are normal. This session will also talk about the Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch. This is a service that makes it easy for people with Alzheimer’s, caregivers, families and physicians to locate clinical trials based on personal criteria and location.      

Safety First: When caring for the person with dementia, having a safe and supportive home is an important concern. As the abilities of a person with dementia will change, you as the caregiver can learn to adapt the home to support these changes with some creativity, flexibility, and problem solving. Participants will also learn about wandering and Medic Alert-Safe Return, as well as enrolling in this program at no charge.

Behavior and Communication: Alzheimer’s disease can cause a person to act in different and unpredictable ways. Others repeat certain questions or gestures. These types of reactions can lead to misunderstanding, frustration and tension. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias can gradually diminish a person’s ability to communicate. Not only do people with dementia have more difficulty expressing thoughts and emotions, they also have more trouble understanding others.      

Alzheimer’s and Medication: This presentation highlights medications, prescribed as well as over-the counter, for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Legal and Financial Issues: There are a number of legal and financial documents that will help you formalize you plans and wishes. Taking the time to put these documents in place now will be a big help to you and your family in the future.

Brain-Chi:  Martial Arts For Your Brain:  Between work, church, social activities, civic organizations, and all of the activities or duties that we fulfill each day, it can be tough keeping everything organized. Use it or lose it – like every other muscle in our body, we have to exercise our brains to keep them strong. Mental fitness boosts brain cell growth, creating more tissue that helps make up for what’s lost as we age.