WILSON, N.C. — February 13, 2016 — The 14th annual Caregiver Education Conference “Navigating the Dementia Maze” will be held on Tuesday, March 7, in the Hamlin Student Center on the campus of Barton College in Wilson.
The Gerontology Program at Barton College, Alzheimer’s 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 visit https://www2.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/acls/ceu.html for more information regarding CEU’s and learning objectives. Respite reimbursement is available with prior approval. 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, Alzheimer’s 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. with caregivers Mr. and Mrs. David Wood briefly sharing their caregivers’ testimony. At 9:30 a.m., the morning keynote speaker Mark Hensley, MA, Dementia Services Coordinator, Division of Aging and Adult Services, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, will discuss “Making North Carolina Dementia Friendly – What is it all About?” 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 from which to choose at 10:45 a.m. Kim Emory, Family Caregiver Resource Specialist, Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments, and Ashley Winstead, Nash FCSP Coordinator, will address “”Caring for the Caregiver;” representatives from the Barton College Gerontology Program will discuss “Technology and Caregiving;” and Gregory Wallace, attorney, Monroe Wallace Law Group, will focus on “The Legal Issues of Caregiving.”
Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m., and the three breakout sessions will be repeated beginning 12:45 p.m. to ensure participants can attend a second option of the three sessions.
At 1:45 p.m., there will be a break for visiting with exhibitors in the afternoon followed by the 2 p.m. afternoon keynote address by Melanie Bunn, MS, RN, Dementia Training Specialist, Alzheimer’s North Carolina. She will discuss “Creative Connections Within Dementia – Using the Senses to Find Quality of Life.”
At 3:30 p.m., there will be closing remarks, evaluations, and the awarding of raffle prizes. The conference 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.
“The conference continues to grow, and this year promises to be one of the strongest events yet,” shared Dr. Steven Fulks, director of the Barton College Gerontology Program. “Our speakers, our breakout sessions, and the vendors combine to offer a one-stop opportunity to impact the quality of care provided by the family. Dr. Russell’s vision of the Caregiver Education Conference continues to touch countless lives and enhance the family caregiving experience. Our partners are incredible—Alzheimer’s NC and the Upper Coastal Plain Area Agency on Aging. This is truly a dream team.”
Also during the conference this year, those attending will have the opportunity to participate in the Virtual Dementia Tour®. The Virtual Dementia Tour® is a powerful sensitivity and awareness experience created for anyone seeking to understand the physical and mental challenges of those with dementia. The Virtual Dementia Tour® is a dementia simulation where participants will experience the challenges someone with dementia might face. Please note that it can be emotionally moving to go through this experience. Those interested in participating in the Virtual Dementia Tour® may sign up at the morning conference check-in. The Virtual Dementia Tour® will be available throughout the day during all sessions and lunch. The conference is able to provide the Virtual Dementia Tour® through the courtesy of Spring Arbor of Wilson.
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Questions? Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations at Barton College, at 252-399-6529 or kdaughety@barton.edu.