WILSON, N.C. — March 3, 2025 — The 22nd annual Russell Caregiver Education Conference will be held Friday, March 28, in Willis N. Hackney Library on the Barton College campus. The conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. with check-in and resource exhibits and will conclude at 1 p.m.
Barton College, Dementia Alliance of North Carolina, and the Upper Coastal Plain Area Agency on Aging have partnered to present the conference.
Individuals interested in participating should register at http://www.dementianc.org/Wilson2025. The registration fee is $10 for family caregivers, friends of those living with dementia, volunteers and clergy. Barton students and faculty are encouraged to attend and may register at no cost with an official Barton-issued email address. The fee is $40 for professional caregivers, healthcare professionals and those seeking Continuing Education Units, with 3.5 CEUs available. For more information on CEUs, visit the NC Division of Health Service Regulation-Adult Care Licensure Section website.
Walk-in registrations will also be available for $10 for family caregivers and $50 for professional paid caregivers.
For questions regarding registration or schedule, please contact Ashleigh Glover, Area Agency on Aging, at AGlover@ucpcog.org or 252-234-5984, or Lisa Levine, Dementia Alliance, at llevine@DementiaNC.org or 919-832-3732.
This conference is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Joseph Russell and his wife Sarah Anne Poole Russell, and in honor of all family caregivers. The Caregiver Education Conference at Barton is generously supported through an endowment that Dr. Russell 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.
The program will begin at 9 a.m. with a brief welcome, followed by the first presentation, “AskAshleigh,” led by Ashleigh Glover, Family Caregiver Resource Specialist with the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments. Lisa Levine, Senior Director of Programs at Dementia Alliance of North Carolina, will then present “Accepting the Challenge.”
Following a short break, the Fulks Award will be presented at 10:25 a.m. The next session, “Dementia Overview and Project CARE,” will be led by Amanda Biggs, CDP, Project C.A.R.E. Family Consultant with the Mid-East Commission Area Agency on Aging, providing insight into dementia care and support programs.
After another brief break, the conference will conclude with the final presentation, “Technology for Dementia Care,” led by January Brown, Lead Aging Consultant for the Eastern Carolina Council, Area Agency on Aging. Brown has extensive experience working in long-term care facilities, psychiatric facilities, and community support programs. She holds certifications in dementia care and compassionate touch therapy. Her presentation will explore how caregivers can utilize technological advancements to enhance support and improve the quality of life for individuals with dementia.
The goal of this conference is to equip caregivers with the knowledge, resources, and support to navigate the challenges of dementia care. Attendees will gain valuable insights into available programs, emerging technologies, and practical strategies to enhance care and improve the well-being of both caregivers and those they support.
Local resource exhibitors will include caregiver services, care facilities, home health and hospice organizations, insurance companies, and more. This collaboration provides both support and education for anyone interested in learning more about dementia. Educational sessions will focus on assistive technologies, artificial intelligence, and dementia care.
END