Caregivers'
College
and Resource Fair
SAVE
THE DATE:
2011 CAREGIVER'S COLLEGE
Saturday April 9th
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
At The Life Center of Davidson County
FREE EVENT
A "Must Attend" for Caregivers of the Elderly!!!
Caregivers'
College and Resource Fair
Saturday, April 10, 2010
On
Saturday April 10th, thirty-eight Caregivers attended the 2nd Annual
Caregiver’s College and Resource Fair. The Life Center of Davidson
County, The North Carolina Family Caregiver Support Program, The Community
Outreach Nurses at Lexington Memorial Hospital, and Davidson County
Senior Services worked together to provide a day filled with information,
laughter, and support for local Caregivers, especially those caring
for Persons with Alzheimer’s/Dementia.
Local
Attorney David Inabinett spoke on Elder Law, including elements of Wills,
Living Wills, Trusts, Health Care Planning, and Power of Attorney Forms.
Attendees learned how having the appropriate legal document allows them
to authorize decisions on behalf of their loved one.
Renowned Dementia Care Specialist
Teepa Snow taught attendees about how a brain disease such as dementia
or Alzheimer’s affects a person. She also gave practical advice
on how to more easily work with a person affected by these diseases
using various tried-and-true solutions based on years of medical research
and her own experience as both a personal and professional caregiver.
Teepa’s
presentation included information on (click links to see more information
about these topics):
• What Happens to Memory? What is Lost? What is Kept?
• Humor
& Caregiving—Learning How to Laugh!
• Creative and
Practical Tips for Getting through the Day
• What’s
the Difference between Dementia & Alzheimers? Understanding the
Different Dementias.
• Understanding Yourself as a Caregiver—What Do You Need
to Keep Going?
• How Does Environment Affect Abilities & Behaviors?
Don
Heermans, from the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments, used special
glasses to allow attendees the opportunity to view how the world looks
for people with eye diseases such as glaucoma, and macular degeneration.
Kim
Johnson, from the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments, spoke on Fall
Prevention and made Caregivers aware of how medication, eye diseases
and environment can all contribute to falls for seniors. She also explained
that one in three adults age 65+ falls each year and of those who fall,
20% to 30% suffer moderate to severe injuries that make it hard for
them to get around or live independently and increase their chances
of early death.
At the end of the event, a comment received from one of the attendees
seemed to sum up this event best – “Wonderful day of learning”.
For more information about other Caregiver Events in Davidson County,
visit www.caregivingfamilies.com
