Presentation Topics for Professionals and Families of the Elderly

ElderCare Consultants Care Managers have a unique combination of academic and professional experience that can provide insight, education, and resources for both professionals and families. Below is a brief overview of the presentation topics we offer. We are happy to tailor our talks to the needs of our audience or create a new presentation to fit your request!

Support Groups for Family Caregivers. Is your organization looking to enhance the supportive services offered to seniors and families? We can facilitate educational classes and support groups for spouses or adult children who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. A Licensed Social Worker or Registered Nurse is available to assist families in coping with the disease process and deal with the stress, depression, anxiety and grief that accompanies the disease. This is an effective way to offer information, education, and support for families in a group setting. We are available for one-time speaking engagements, or on-going group facilitation.

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“Normal” Aging and Dementia 101: “My loved one doesn’t have dementia…they’re just old and a little forgetful.” It is a common misperception that memory loss is a normal part of aging. This presentation offers an overview of healthy mental aging and how to detect early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Addresses common misconceptions about memory loss, dementia, delirium, depression. Discussion and information on the prevalence, impact, risk factors, prevention and intervention strategies.

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Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. More in-depth information on how to cope with the disease process, and learn about different diseases that can cause dementia. Understand the importance of differentiation of diagnosis; is it dementia, delirium, depression, or a combination of all three? Discuss non-pharmacological interventions as part of treatment. Learn about what other medical issues may be causing difficult behaviors, and how you can treat the problem or cope with the behavior. Learn effective communication skills, and understand the importance of providing meaningful activity for individuals with dementia.

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Addressing mental health issues: A Client’s Right to Self-Determination vs. A Danger to Self or Others. This presentation addresses the prevalence of mental illness in the older adult population, and provides and overview of age related changes that increase ones risk for mental illness. We discuss knowing how and when to intervene, and learning how to find a balance between the client’s right to independence vs. being dangerous to themselves or others.

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Geriatric Care Management 101: Most people are unaware of the valuable services and assistance provided by working with a professional Geriatric Care Manager. A Geriatric Care Manager is a qualified professional who can help you or your family member to manage your medical, psychological and social affairs, and assist you in coordinating your financial, legal, and housing needs. There are common challenges that families face as loved ones are aging and in need of more care. Facing a major life transition or coping with chronic illness is often an overwhelming experience for both individuals and families. Inter-personal or familial conflict is often a natural consequence of significant life changes. Geriatric Care Managers understand this process, and can help you navigate a complicated system, advocate for your rights and wishes, and connect you with optimum services and care.

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Understanding Commitment Process and finding the least restrictive alternatives. A mental health or behavioral emergency often triggers the concern of family members or friends who may then consider Civil Commitment for the person with mental illness or cognitive impairment. Knowing how to handle these emergencies requires preparation. Having information about how to handle emergencies will better prepare you for helping a person with mental illness in managing his mental health crises. This presentation will cover the steps in the commitment process.

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Caregiver Stress and Family Transitions: Caregiving for a person with dementia or chronic conditions can often times be a full-time commitment and lead to unhealthy levels of stress. How do caregivers know when they’ve reached their “tipping point”? In this presentation, learn how to identify when a loved one is in need of a higher level of care than what the caregiver can provide, and discuss how to make a smooth transition if the loved one is resistant to change.

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Alzheimer's as Invitation: Pain Management for the Family. When families are affected by Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, typically the reaction is one of fear, angst, anxiety, denial, fatality, and grief. This class is an invitation to think of the disease from a new perspective to help us manage our pain.In addition, practical tips for managing behaviors will be discussed, with a hand-out to take home for reference in the days ahead. The healing exercise of writing an Ethical Will is covered in this class, as well as how to increase comfort in implementing Advance Directives.

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A Physiological and Behavioral Picture of the Effects of Stressors. What happens in our bodies physiologically when a stressor occurs? How does our behavior mitigate or intensify the effects? Take home a flow chart that will help you see when to intervene, and learn how to intervene with some simple techniques that are free on an as-needed basis.

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Nutrition in the Elderly. Explore what is working and what is not working in the nutritional care for the elderly, with or without dementia. Learn some healthier, alternative approaches for the sweet tooth and how to sneak in more protein without resorting only to that meat that is so hard for those tired teeth to chew. Heighten your awareness of weight issues and how it affects healing and caregiving. Take home information on readily available resources for

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What is Holism? Learn from a Certified Holistic Nurse the nine characteristics and three principles that make alternative or complementary approaches holistic. Without a holistic foundation and intention,alternative or complementary approaches will not be experienced that differently from traditional western approaches. Take home a list of resources for further exploration.

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Integrating Alternative Approaches for Memory Loss Care. What is the difference between Western, alternative, complementary, and integrative approaches? Where does holism fit in? How do I juggle all this? What are some alternative approaches I can use with my resident or loved one with memory loss? You will go home with answers to these questions as well as a list of resources for many alternative approaches, some of which will be experienced or demonstrated in this class.

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