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13th Annual Caregiver Education Conference at Barton College on March 8

WILSON, N.C. — February 26, 2016 — The 13th annual Caregiver Education Conference “Navigating the Dementia Maze” will be held on Tuesday, March 8, in the Hamlin Student Center on the campus of Barton College in Wilson.

The Gerontology Program at Barton College, Alzheimers North Carolina, the Upper Coastal Plain Area Agency on Aging Family Caregiver Support Program, and Joseph D. Russell, M.D., have teamed up to sponsor this annual conference once again.

This conference is generously supported by Dr. Russell through an endowment he established in memory of his mother, Lillian Hester McDaniel Russell, who served as a caregiver for her husband, Norman, following his stroke and, later, declining health. This endowment also honors family caregivers across the state.

Registration for family caregivers, clergy, volunteers, and students (with lunch included) is $10 per person. Registration for professional caregivers will be $40 per person and will include 4.5 CEU’s. Please visitwww.alznc.org conference and workshop page for more information regarding CEU’s and learning objectives. Respite reimbursement is available; prior approval is necessary. A limited number of scholarships to cover registration, for family caregivers only, are also available.

Early registration is encouraged to ensure a seat. Same-day registration will be on a space-available basis. To submit your registration or to request additional information about the conference, respite reimbursement, or scholarships for family caregivers, please contact Lisa Levine, Alzheimers North Carolina, 1305 Navaho Drive, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27609, 800-228-8738 or email: llevine@alznc.org.

The day will begin with check-in at 8 a.m., followed by an Opening Welcome at 9 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., the morning keynote speaker Melanie Pate, MS, PhD, Program and Services Director for Alzheimers North Carolina Wilmington, will discuss “Understanding Dementia and the Importance of Early Detection and Planning.” After the keynote session, there will be an opportunity at 10:30 a.m. for participants to meet with exhibitors for additional information and to ask questions. Following the break, there will be three breakout sessions at 10:45 a.m.: Keith Lerro, MD, PhD, Regional Medical Oncology Center, Wilson, who will speak on “How Hospice Fits into a Care Plan”; Melanie Bunn, MS, RN, GNP, Dementia Training Specialist, who will speak on “Communicating through the Progression of Dementia”; and the Upper Coastal Plan COG, Area Agency on Aging Staff, and Rosalind Pugh, MS, Project CARE Consultant, Alzheimers North Carolina, who will talk about “Navigating caregiving resources, learning where to turn for help.”

During the Noon lunch break, Barton College gerontology students will share with participants their work in this field of study as well as their caregiving life experiences. Presentations include Harvey Holmes speaking on “Family Caregiving from a Male Perspective,” Carley Brantley’s presentation will be on “Head Trauma and the Incidence of Dementia in Later Life,” and a “Step by Step Guide to Caregiving” will be shared by Emily Kaczmar and Meaghan Tyson (gerontology alumni).

Beginning at 1 p.m., there will be three new breakout sessions from which to choose. These sessions will include: Tamyra Jovel, MSW, Program and Services Director, Alzheimers North Carolina Greenville, who will discuss “Taking Care of You: Self-Care for Family Caregivers”; Bunn who will lead a conversation about “Rethinking Behaviors”; and Alicia Blater, MS, APR, Family Caregiver Support Program Consultant, Lifespan Respite Project Director, Division of Aging and Adult Services, NC DHHS, who will lead dialogue on “Maximizing the Use of Respite Care.”

There will be a 2:15 p.m. break for visiting with exhibitors in the afternoon followed by the 2:30 p.m. afternoon keynote address by the North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall. The event will conclude at 4 p.m.

The goal of this conference is to explore various techniques and strategies caregivers can use to care for themselves and for individuals with dementia, to identify resources to assist in developing routines and programs to meet their needs, and to explore recent and effective assessment, treatment, and care options.

“Our Caregiver Education Conference is designed for family caregivers and professionals in the field, including direct care workers, social workers, care managers, rehabilitation professionals, medical personnel, and community service providers,” shared Dr. Steven Fulks, director of the Barton College Gerontology Program. “Our blending of nationally and regionally known authorities with local professionals in the field provides a sound educational experience. We offer information programs for family caregivers, continuing educational opportunities for professionals, and the venue for the caregiver and the professional to find each other and interact.”

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