Alzheimer’s Association offers free Winter Education Series kicking off this Thursday
The Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter is offering a free, four-week virtual education series to help families facing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. The programs help families better understand what to expect so they can be prepared to meet the changes ahead, including changes in communication and behaviors, discussing dementia as a family and planning ahead for future financial and legal considerations.
The virtual series will begin this Thursday, December 7 at 12 p.m. via Zoom and continue each Thursday through December 28. The schedule of programs includes:
December 7 - Effective Communication Strategies: This program explains the communication changes that take place throughout the course of Alzheimer’s disease, how to decode and respond to the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia, and strategies to connect and communicate at each stage of the disease.
December 14 - Dementia Conversations: This program offers tips on how to have honest and caring conversations with family members about the challenging and uncomfortable topics of going to the doctor, deciding when to stop driving, and making legal and financial plans.
December 21 - Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors: This program teaches participants how to decode behavioral messages, identify common behavior triggers, and learn strategies to help intervene with some of the most common behavioral challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.
December 28 - Managing Money: A Caregiver’s Guide to Finances: This program will feature tips for managing someone else’s finances, how to prepare for future care costs and the benefits of early planning.
To learn more about the virtual education series and register for it, visit the registration page or the Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter’s website. Today, there are more than six million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, including 66,000 in Iowa. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends are serving as caregivers, including 98,000 in Iowa.
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia - by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Visit alz.org or call 800-272-3900.
