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Living with Dementia Series

2023 sessions concluded; check back for future dates.

Are you providing care to someone with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias and looking for more information and support?

This dynamic, engaging, in-person educational series offers realistic tips, reliable community resources, and practical tools for care partners to use daily in the caregiving journey.

Attend one or more events in the four-part series. Each event includes an optional on-site “Memory Café,” where you can bring your loved one living with dementia to enjoy activities in a safe environment while you attend the informational session.

Series Highlights

Topics in the four-part "Living with Dementia" series include (click to see descriptions):

    Learn about changes in the brain that are age-related versus possible signs of dementia; the types and stages of dementia; evaluation methods, including the role of imaging; the science around medications; risks versus benefits of current treatment options; the most essential approaches to care; and more.

    Identify signs of distress or unmet needs in people with dementia and learn how to adapt or modify your own communication to provide the best possible support. Participants will also learn how to interpret behaviors, find approaches that may reduce distress, promote positive wellbeing, incorporate meaningful activities, foster self-care, handle mobility issues, and more.

    This information-packed session offers ways to strengthen, support, and get respite for care partners, including establishing a realistic support system and expanding the care team. Presenters will offer ideas for identifying and reducing caregiver stress, increasing safety at home for everyone, handling potentially dangerous situations, getting legal authority to help your loved one, managing care partner guilt, preventing abuse/neglect, and more.

    During the early stages of a dementia diagnosis, it may be difficult to consider plans and options. Participants in this session will learn why it’s important to have conversations as early as possible and how to find help. Presenters will provide ideas for creating a dementia-friendly environment in the home and other settings as well as ideas for finding a dementia care facility or support setting that best matches needs, including a “questions to ask” guide and other tools. Panelists joining the conversation will offer resources to assist with preserving independence throughout all stages of care, maximizing safety and mobility, creating a dementia-friendly environment in the home and other settings, accessing services in your community, and more.

    All events are free of charge and open to the public. You are welcome to attend individual sessions only or the entire series. Advance registration is required either online or by phone. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept walk-ins.

    Who Should Attend?

    Informal caregivers and anyone interested in learning more or providing support to someone impacted by Alzheimer's disease or other dementias are encouraged to attend.

    Featured Educators

    Educational sessions are led by Dr. Rollin M. Wright, MPH, MS, associate professor of medicine at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and a dementia care expert with AFCPA; Peg Chabala, dementia education specialist; and Janice Whitaker, M.Ed., BSN, RN, certified dementia care practitioner, geriatric nurse, a member of AFCPA, and administrator with the Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing.

    Memory Café

    (Optional; Available during all sessions at every location; Space is limited.)

    Bring your loved one living with dementia along to experience our on-site Memory Café, available at all locations, where they will enjoy activities in a safe, supervised environment close by while you separately attend the “Living with Dementia” educational session.

    Trained care providers will be available to provide personal attention and help ensure a comfortable experience for participants during the café option.

    We’re excited to offer the “Opening Minds through Art” (OMA) program at the Memory Café as part of this community education series. OMA is an intergenerational, evidence-based art program offered specifically for people living with dementia. OMA pairs volunteers with each participant in creating no-fail artwork while providing opportunities for social engagement and creative self-expression.

    Advance registration is required for the Memory Café.

    After registering, the primary contact will receive a personal phone call from our team regarding intake of essential information for a loved one to attend the café.

    Need-to-Know Information

    • If you signed your loved one up for the Memory Café, you will receive a phone call from one of our team members to gather additional information prior to the event.
    • Light refreshments will be available.
    • Parking and other day-of details will be emailed prior to the event.
    • All events will follow Penn State and local CDC COVID-19 guidance; requirements may vary by location.

    Questions?

    If you have any questions, please email our team at livingwithdementia@psu.edu or call our automated registration phone line to leave a message at 814-865-1234.