Living Well with Cognitive Changes - Presentation Summaries

I've been to so many educational workshops on Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. So, many are downers... telling you all the problems but not really giving practical solutions. Or, it's all about falls, wills, finances, medication. It's not about life.

I'm asked to speak often at conferences and workshops. The theme running through my presentations is hope. We've come along way in just a few short decades. And, the innovation in this space is incredibly inspiring.

While I often craft unique presentations for specific audiences, I'm sharing a selection here as I'm often asked for just such a list by those inviting me.

The Age-Tech Toolbox: Up-to-date age-tech?tools for supporting elders and their families

Professionals

Innovation in age-tech is happening faster than we can keep up with. Yet, knowing what tools are available and which situations demand which tool is becoming a critical service life aging professionals offer families. In this fast-moving workshop, learn the types of tools now available and how to evaluate their fit for a client.

Innovation for Family Carers: A toolbox of new tools for making it easier to care for an aging relative

Family

In the past, families just a had few local services available to support them when caring for a parent or grandparent. Now, billions of dollars have been poured into designing new tools that support families in everything from stopping fires in the kitchen, nipping telephone scams in the bud, remotely monitoring foot health for diabetics, alerting families when a loved one with dementia leaves their home, and so much more.

Her socks are missing again! Practical strategies for challenging family interactions

Professionals

Many of us chose this field because we love helping people. But, we didn’t count on enduring the sometimes awkward, demoralizing, infuriating interactions with the family members of those we are caring for. Is there any way to prevent one of the hardest parts of our job? Or, how can we respond in a way that doesn’t make it worse?

Her socks are missing again! Practical strategies for advocating for a loved one who lives in skilled nursing or senior living community

Family

Your family member lives at a care center and it seems like so much of what you ask never gets done or you just don't get the information you need. Learn how centers like this are set up and how to navigate what seems so confusing from outside. By understanding the process and infrastructure, you'll be better equipped to successfully advocate along their health journey.

Senior Living 101: What is my client actually buying?

Professionals

When advising clients, we each have to wade through tons of marketing spin and misinformation. Let’s look together at what a client is actually buying when they choose to move into a senior living setting. While we’ll touch on a variety of environments, we’ll focus on Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Adult Family Homes. From caregiver ratios, apartment features, core services, healthcare options, dining choice, guarantees, and more, we’ll get into the details of what each setting offers and how to evaluate local options for a client.

Senior Living 101: What am I actually buying?

Family

You're thinking about helping a family member move from their long-time home to a senior living community. But, it looks like a confusing maze of options. Or, on the flipside, it feels like there is only one option. Go behind the scenes to understand how these communities are set up to better understand what to look for when researching for your family

Global Innovation: Thriving with Dementia

Professionals + Family

People around the globe are experimenting with fresh ways to help people living with dementia thrive. What can we who work and live in the USA learn from people around the world? From social programs to technology to city planning to engaging the arts in new ways, the innovation right now is highly hopeful. Spark your own creativity. Broaden your knowledge of what’s possible. Look beyond our borders for inspiration.

Adapting Everyday Life for Dementia

For Professionals + Family

It's a very common question: What can I give her to do now that she has dementia? While many of us are looking for a new program or something imaginative, often the most effective ways to engage a family member or client with cognitive changes are right at our finger tips. We just have to learn how to modify everyday indoor and outdoor tasks. Together, we'll walk through adapting everyday life.

Staying Connected to an Aging Relative: Keeping a relationship alive when distance, dementia, or work get in the way

For Families or Professionals

You want to keep visiting an aging family member but either the visits are getting more difficult or it's just plain more difficult to get to them in-person. Review a toolbox of tools now available to stay connected over a distance and learn 10 strategies for improving the quality of in-person or remote visits.

Finding Funds: Paying for Senior Living When It Seems Impossible

Professionals + Families

A family member needs extra support. But, how can we pay for it? Even though it may seem impossible, getting a grasp on how to calculate what it really takes and reviewing a variety of funding scenarios and options makes all the difference.

Living Well: A Relationship-Centered Model of Care

Professionals and Families

Unpack Living Well – a relationship-centered model of wellness. Through story telling, case studies, and current research, we’ll examine what it takes to support people living with dementia in thriving at all levels of abilities. Get inspired!

The Power of Hearing Well: The Surprising Connection between Hearing Well and Dementia

Professionals and Families

Hearing may not seem as interesting as brain fitness, healthy cooking, or neuroscience developments. But, hearing may have just as much an impact on your risk of developing dementia as diet and exercise! And, if you already know someone living with dementia, new tools just developed may empower them to live well—even with hearing loss.

Dementia FAQ: Talking Tough Questions and Hard Conversations

Professionals and Families

How do I know it’s time to get help? To take away the keys? To take over the finances? It’s so different communicating with a family member with dementia! Help! How do I deal with family conflict? Let’s talk about the questions that either go unasked or unanswered in this multi-topic workshop.?And, let's walk away with 7 strategies for having hard conversations with an aging family member.

Living Well with Dementia: Strategies for engaging a person you care about

Professionals and Families

Families living with someone with dementia find that helping them live a life with meaning and purpose is challenging. Let’s talk about it. We’ll be discussing key strategies and practicing how to apply them in specific situations shared by participants. Taking a short break to do this exercise can make a difference in the everyday journey of supporting a family member or client.

Designing for Dementia: A behind-the-scenes look into the design of a modern memory care center

Learn the design strategies guiding daily life at a memory care community. How does the built-environment support a person with cognitive changes? How do the schedule, staffing patterns, meal design, and other programs all work together? While learning about design, we'll also take away key insights for navigating your role as a family member or friend of someone living with dementia - from moving in, visiting, staying in touch, coordinating care, and helping them thrive.