While we do not yet know how to prevent Alzheimer's disease, there are many things we can do to keep our aging brains functioning at their highest levels. Some research has shown that even people with cognitive impairments improve their scores on memory, problem solving and word fluency measures when they systematically engage in cognitive exercises.

This session will cover holistic measures you can take to promote healthy brain function, and lead participants through a 30-minute brain fitness workout that can be done at home.

Speaker:

Lin Noyes, RN, MSN
Director
Family Respite Center
Falls Church, Virginia

Families need to know how to protect their interests when arranging for care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. This forum will delineate the differences between nursing home and assisted living contracts, and will help you better understand services, costs, resident rights and discharge criteria. Attendees will receive a free copy of Consumer's Guide to Nursing Homes in Northern Virginia.

Speaker:

Edward E. Zetlin, Esq.
Managing Attorney
Legal Services of Northern Virginia
Falls Church, Virginia

Living with dementia is a family affair. This forum will help you involve all family members, including the person with dementia, in planning for future care. It will outline changes (physical, cognitive, emotional and social) the family can expect to occur as Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia progresses over time. A step-by-step approach will be presented to help develop family care strategies from the earliest medical, legal and financial arrangements to community service choices to residential care and end-of-life decisions. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to reduce the stresses of living with dementia!

Speakers:

Elizabeth Huebner, RN, MSN
Center Nurse
Lewinsville Adult Day Health Center
Fairfax County Health Department
McLean, Virginia

Karin Udler, LCSW
Social Worker
Alzheimer's Association, National Capital Area
Fairfax, Virginia

Learn how communication is affected in persons with dementia. Explore effective verbal and nonverbal ways to communicate, and understand strategies for enhancing communication, both for the caregiver and the person with dementia.

Speaker:

Eileen Erbengi, RN, MS
Alzheimer's Association, National Capital Area
Fairfax, Virginia

Activities are an integral part of our daily existence and give meaning to our lives. This is especially true for people with dementia. This forum will help family caregivers identify and use activities that will engage persons with dementia in diverse experiences. Activities discussed and demonstrated will help caregivers structure the day, and give a sense of accomplishment and feelings of being valued to persons with dementia.

Speaker:

Andrea Cafer, ADC, NHA
Assisted Living Manager
The Jefferson by Marriott
Arlington, Virginia

Learn what causes problem behaviors (e.g., uncooperativeness, rummaging, wandering, combativeness, disinhibition, yelling) and how to modify your thinking and your behaviors to positively influence the behaviors of the person with dementia.. Explore ways to prevent or reduce the frequency and severity of challenging behaviors, and learn what interventions bring desired results.

Speaker:

Stephanie Zeman, RN, MSN
Nurse Consultant
Fairfax Station, Virginia

Enabling people with dementia to carry out activities of daily living (ADLs) is the focus of this forum. ADLs are not just tasks that need to be done (e.g., eating, dressing, grooming, toileting, bathing, etc.), but are treatments-opportunities to help people with dementia maintain their physical, mental, communication and social skills, as well as their dignity and self-respect. Learn guidelines and techniques for helping persons with dementia accomplish activities of daily living.

Speakers:

Judy Hennessey, RN
Mary Washington Hospital
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Andrea Conner
Founder, Caring Hands, Inc.
Woodbridge, Virginia