The Alzheimer’s Association WNY Chapter offers a variety of free education programs for the public, both in-person and virtually.
To register for individual classes, visit alz.org/CRF - our community resource finder where you can search our lengthy list of programs.
These programs are all free--click on the titles below to get details about what is covered.
Dementia Conversations
Effective Communication Strategies
Healthy Living for your Brain and Body
The Warning Signs of Alzheimer's
Legal and Financial Planning
for Alzheimer's Disease
Living with Alzheimer's for Caregivers
Living with Alzheimer's for people with Alzheimer's in the Early Stages
Living with Alzheimer's for Younger-Onset
Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia
Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior
Click here to see when and where education programs are being offered locally.
Dementia Conversations
Dementia Conversations will offer helpful tips to assist families with difficult conversations related to dementia, including going to the doctor, deciding when to stop driving, and making legal and financial plans. This program is primarily for those who have a family member or close friend beginning to experience Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
Effective Communication Strategies
Individuals living with dementia often experience changes in behavior that can be confusing to friends and family. For caregivers, learning to decode messages through attitude, tone of voice, facial expressions and body language can help both parties to connect and communicate in meaningful ways. This program will help to explain the communication changes that take place in a person with dementia and identify strategies to connect and communicate at each stage of the disease.
The Warning Signs of Alzheimer's
Early diagnosis gives people with Alzheimer’s disease the opportunity to make key decisions about treatment, care and planning, and the power to make choices about their own health and future. This program will increase awareness of the benefits of Alzheimer’s early detection, and provide information about memory loss and normal aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia. Also learn about the risk factors, 10 warning signs, diagnostic process and resources to help.
Healthy Living for your Body and Brain: Tips from the Latest Research
At any age, there are lifestyle habits we can adopt to help maintain or even potentially improve our health. These habits may also help to keep our brains healthy as we age and possibly delay the onset of cognitive decline. This workshop covers four areas of lifestyle habits that are associated with healthy aging: cognitive activity, exercise, diet and nutrition, and social engagement. In each area, we will discuss what we know, drawing on current research, as well as what we can do — steps to take now to improve or maintain overall health in each area.
Legal and financial planning
for Alzheimer's disease
The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease makes planning more important than ever. This program will offer information about legal and financial issues to consider, how to put plans in place and how to access legal and financial resources near you. Topics covered will include making legal plans that fit your needs, legal documents you’ll need, how to find legal and financial assistance, practical strategies for making a long-term plan of care and government programs that can help pay for care.
Living with Alzheimer’s Disease
for Caregivers
When someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, 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. Living with Alzheimer’s for Caregivers is a series of educational programs that provide answers to the questions that arise in the various stages of the disease. Topics vary by stage indicated, but may include developing a care team, legal and financial planning, coping strategies, care and treatment options, communicating and connecting, and maximizing independence.
Each of the following series of programs is two-three sessions long, with each session lasting approximately 1 hour.
- Living with Alzheimer’s: For Caregivers - Early Stage.
- Living with Alzheimer’s: For Caregivers - Middle Stage.
- Living with Alzheimer’s: For Caregivers - Late Stage.
Living with Alzheimer’s Disease
for persons with Alzheimer's disease in the Early Stages
This program is a three-part series for people in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is life-changing and leads to many questions. What will this mean for me and my family? How do I plan for the future? Where can I get the help I need? We will discuss what you need to know, what you need to plan, and what you can do as you navigate this chapter of your life.
The series of programs is three sessions long, with each session lasting 1-1.5 hours each.
Living with Alzheimer's Disease
for Younger-Onset Alzheimer's (for person living with the disease and care partners)
When someone under 65 is diagnosed with Younger-Onset Alzheimer's disease or related dementia, the first reaction is often shock or denial. This doesn't happen to someone so young...does it? What does the diagnosis mean? What kinds of plans need to be made for everyone? What about work? What resources are available to help? Join us for this series of programs that provide answers to the questions that arise for people concerned about Younger-Onset Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Hear from those directly affected and learn what you need to know, what you need to plan, and what you can do to ease the impact throughout the course of the disease.
Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia
Alzheimer’s is not normal aging. It’s a disease of the brain that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s, the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s, Alzheimer’s disease stages and risk factors, current research and treatments available to address some symptoms as well as Alzheimer’s Association resources.
Understanding and Responding
to Dementia-related behavior
During the middle stage of dementia, the person with the disease often starts to exhibit new behaviors that can be confusing for a caregiver. These behaviors are a form of communication, and are essential to understanding the needs of the person with dementia. This program will help attendees identify common triggers for behaviors associated with dementia, and learn strategies to address some common dementia-related behaviors.
Click here to see when and where education programs are being offered locally.