Learn About Alzheimer's & Dementia | Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer’s Association, Western New York Chapter provides education and training sessions for four main groups—the general public, family caregivers, individuals with dementia and healthcare professionals. All of our education and training options can be customized to meet you or your organizations needs. Unless otherwise noted, please register for all education and training sessions in advance to the chapter by calling 1.800.272.3900.

Education and Training Calendar (includes dates through June 2012)

Brain Awareness Week Programming (General memory wellness programs March 12-21 in all eight counties of WNY)

WNY Dementia Care Symposium (one day conference for caregivers and healthcare professionals on April 13, 2012)

Regular education and training offerings include:

Activity Based Alzheimer’s Care – Learn the fundamental components of Activity Based Alzheimer’s Care through assessment and individualized care planning, as well as options for program designs, activity adaptation, and methods of implementation. Examine the role of environment in activities and identify ways to evaluate new and current offerings.

The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease – This program is designed to provide you with the basic information that everyone needs to know about memory loss issues and what they mean for all of us. We will answer many frequently asked questions including, “What is age-related memory loss?” and “What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease?”

Community Resources – The guest presenter will be Miriam Callahan from Erie County Senior Services. In this program, you will learn about what programs and services are available in Erie County.

Dementia Sensitivity Training for Families – This hands-on training focuses on exercises that relate the challenges of activities of daily living to the daily at-home struggles of the person with Alzheimer’s disease.

Financial Concerns – The estimated cost of dementia care in the United States last year was $183 billion. Paying for care or providing unpaid care can be costly. Come learn more about the financial concerns to consider and how tInsurance, Supplemental Security Income, and employment issues.

Foundations of Dementia Care – This sequence of comprehensive trainings are based on the best and latest evidence in dementia care research and the experience of direct care experts. This program, teaching person-centered care, helps direct care providers make better connections to residents with dementia, resulting in improved quality of life for both residents and staff.

Learning to Lead – Provides tools for creating an environment of learning that will reinforce lessons learned in the classroom.
About Dementia – Defines dementia and its impact on a person’s ability to function. This program includes information on improving communication and understanding behavior.
Enhancing Mealtime – Teaches staff the importance of proper nutrition and approaches for challenging mealtime situations.
Reducing Pain – Discusses the different types and causes of pain and teaches staff approaches for reducing pain.
Making Connections – Describes the social needs of residents and provides tools and techniques for ways to have meaningful interactions.
Understanding Wandering – Provides important information about the role of wandering in dementia, offers strategies for promoting safe wandering and provides a model for responding to wandering incidents.
Reducing the Risk of Falls – Describes ways to reduce and prevent injurious falls by promoting mobility, identifying and removing fall hazards, and monitoring fall risk factors on an ongoing basis.
Promoting Restraint-free Care – Examines ways that, even in restraint-free communities, residents may be unintentionally restrained and provides information about proactively addressing needs to maximize resident autonomy and well-being.

Know the 10 Signs: Early Detection Matters – If you or someone you know is experiencing memory loss or behavioral changes, it’s time to learn the facts. Early detection of Alzheimer’s disease gives you a chance to begin drug therapy, enroll in clinical studies and plan for the future. This interactive workshop features video clips of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Legal Issues – Would you like to know more about what legal o put plans in place. We will discuss Medicare vs. Medicaid, personal resources, reverse mortgages, insurance, tax deductions, informal care options, Veterans benefits, Social Security Disability issues to consider and how to put plans in place? The time for planning is now. We will cover advance directives, legal capacity, durable powers of attorney, living wills, wills, living trusts, domestic partnerships, guardianship, and more.

Living with Alzheimer’s Disease – When someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, friends and family have many questions. What does the diagnosis mean? What kinds of plans need to be made? What resources are available to help? As the disease progresses, new questions reflect growing needs for skills, programs, and services. Each section features a one, two or three-part program that provides answers to the questions that arise in the early, middle, and late stages of the disease. Hear from those directly affected and learn what you need to know, what you need to plan, and what you can do at each point along the way.

Early Stage: For Caregivers –In Part 1, you will learn the symptoms of early stage dementia. Part 2 will explore building support and what to do if you are still working, and Part 3 will emphasize the importance of planning for the future.
Early Stage: For the Person with Dementia – This series is intended to educate and support individuals who are in the early stages of a dementia-related illness. Part 1 covers education about the disease, partnering with your doctor, and effective communication. Part 2 addresses relationships, safety, and decision making. Part 3 will go over daily strategies, coping with changes, supporting research, and additional resources.
Young Onset – This series features only one class for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease who are under age 65 and their caregivers.
Middle Stage – We discuss symptoms, communication, relationship changes, personal care, and hospitalizations in Part 1. In Part 2, we explore behavior changes, medications, home safety, driving, and wandering. Part 3 concludes the series covering day services, in-home care, senior living options, and caregiver needs.
Late Stage –Part 1 begins with physical and cognitive symptoms of late stage, changes in the role of the caregiver and in communication, and working with healthcare systems. Part 2 covers resources and end-of-life considerations.

Making Mealtime Successful – Proper nutrition is very important, but for a person with dementia, many issues could arise. Learn how to investigate into the cause of difficulties eating and how to intervene.

Paranoia in Dementia: Causes and Approaches – Presented and highly regarded at the NYS Adult Abuse Training Institute and National Adult Protective Services Association Conference, this session identifies the reasons behind suspiciousness, uncertainty and paranoid behavior in individuals with early and moderate stage dementia. It also identifies the correct approaches to use to minimize the frequency, intensity and ramifications of these feelings.

Power Your Memory: What Research Suggests – Does exercise lower my risk for memory loss? How can I protect myself? This program will answer these questions and provide a general memory health overview that provides you with the information necessary to be proactive when it comes to keeping your memory healthy. We will also discuss the findings of some of the most recent research articles about memory health.

Power Your Memory: Food for Thought – Can diet affect memory health? Some research shows that there may be a connection between certain dietary habits and a decreased risk of memory loss. We will explore this connection and empower you to find ways to provide better fuel for your mind. This program will also provide a general memory health overview that provides you with the information necessary to be proactive when it comes to keeping your memory healthy.

Power Your Memory: Memory Tips – This interactive and fun-filled program will provide a general memory health overview that provides you with the information necessary to be proactive when it comes to keeping your memory healthy. Attendees will participate in a range of brain games to help your brain stay active during the workshop.

Respite Volunteer Training – One way that we help caregivers get a well-deserved break is through our volunteer respite program. If you would like to become a volunteer, attend this training and learn fun ways to adapt activities and engage a person with dementia in life-enriching programs.

Train the Trainer – Our Train the Trainer dementia care courses are designed for professionals such as educators, members of the healthcare community, and professional caregivers with the tools necessary to effectively train others in dementia care.

Training, Leadership & Teamwork in Dementia Care – Go beyond the traditional in-service model and apply techniques for training adults. Your staff will gain a better understanding of the best dementia care practices by extending the learning process outside of “classroom” and into their daily practices. These techniques will also help participants improve their leadership and teamwork skills.
Fundamentals of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia – The essential material for any dementia care trainer to know and teach, this course will give you the background necessary to create a basic introduction to Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias. This session includes optional bonus material for professionals working with individuals who have a developmental disability.
Managing Challenging Behaviors – Learn effective social strategies for responding to behavioral symptoms of dementia, which can often be applied and reduce the need for pharmacologic interventions. Participants will learn how to best respond when faced with a socially “inappropriate” behavior. This training includes information on sexuality and intimacy.
Enriching Activities in Dementia Care – An activity is defined as any exchange or interaction and is not limited to the daily scheduled activities. Learn to implement life-enriching activities throughout the care setting and in each stage of dementia. Participants will also learn techniques for adapting interests and hobbies to create activities that can create positive outcomes for the person with dementia.
Spirituality in Dementia Care (Elective) – Gain a better understanding of the critical role that spirituality plays for the person with dementia. Discover ways to use spirituality to engage and comfort the person, and the standards for conducting a spiritual assessment.
Managing Mealtime and Nutrition in Dementia Care (Elective) – Proper nutrition is very important, but for a person with dementia, many issues could arise. Learn how to investigate into the cause of difficulties eating and how to intervene. By the end of this program you will be able to explain why mealtime observations are important, describe five features of the environment that influence mealtime experiences, and identify three approaches to encourage independence.
Enhancing Communication in Dementia Care – Learn practical techniques for communicating with the person who has dementia. Verbal and non-verbal communication skills will be discussed, along with the decreased communication abilities that are part of both the aging and disease process.
Late Stage Dementia Care – The last stage of dementia brings along with it some important issues to be explored. Learn about the special care considerations for individuals facing the final stage of dementia and how to approach these topics with family caregivers.

Volunteer Training – This is a two-part series for volunteers working directly with caregivers or individuals with dementia. Part 1 includes “The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease” (see description above) and “Dementia Sensitivity Training for Volunteers,” where participants will gain an empathetic understanding of the daily struggles of someone with Alzheimer’s through various exercises meant to simulates the sensory changes and confusion/frustration that can accompany dementia. Part 2 covers how to best approach and communicate with an individual who has dementia so that we minimize frustration and maximize understanding, thus reducing “behaviors.” This training is also appropriate for family caregivers.