The James L. West Center for Dementia Care hosted its second annual caregiving symposium, with this edition titled “Dementia Care Reimagined – Guiding the Way Forward,” on Tuesday morning, February 24, at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth before a standing-room-only audience. First Presbyterian was a major partner in founding the organization, which is a respected voice nationally in the dementia caregiving space.
Cheryl Harding, Ph.D., President/CEO of James L. West Center, welcomed the audience and observed that this year’s event had doubled last year’s inaugural audience. She credited much of the increase to elevated awareness of dementia, partially because of the number of high-profile people who have been acknowledged as facing a dementia diagnosis.
Among these have been actors Robin Williams and Bruce Willis, along with singers Tony Bennett and Glen Campbell. She said, “James L. West is a leader in educating family and professional caregivers and making sure we get the word out about how to care for people with dementia.” Dr. Janice Knebl, founding Chief Medical Officer for The West Center, keynoted the symposium and shared her enthusiasm for a resourceful new Medicare directive, with its GUIDE program.
“This is the first time that Medicare has funded a non-medical program, so it’s a significant shift to provide respite for caregivers. The program will pay up to $2,500 for caregiving services, whether they feature a caregiver coming into the home or taking the loved one living with dementia to an adult day program or for a few days and nights in an assisted living center.”
Dr. Knebl shared three additional observations: · The World Health Organization has labeled dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s, as an epidemic, underscoring the scale of the challenge. · Brain health is essential. Lifestyle changes, such as physical activity, social engagement, and dietary adjustments, can delay cognitive decline. · Texas will attract bright minds to join the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
Jaime Cobb Tinsley, Vice President of Community & Caregiver Education, shared that “People are craving this caregiving information because sometimes when we’re managing a loved one with a hard disease, and there’s not a lot of information out there, they wonder what to do. They’re often grasping for straws, so it’s fulfilling to see when we can come together as a community with this information and resources to help you continue your journey in a healthy way.”
During lunch, Heather Macchietto, Director of the James L. West Adult Day Program, moderated a panel that consisted of family caregivers: Judi Coteff, Bianca Saenz, Keith Rome, and John and Angela Smith, who shared insights on how their lives have been positively impacted by caregiving. John and Angela Smith participated in The West Center’s “Vows Renewed” event on Friday, February 13, when they wore t-shirts adorned with the “We Still Do” message as they joined 14 other couples to renew their vows. “Know It Before You Need It” will be the theme of The West Center’s groundbreaking educational luncheon on Thursday, April 23. With someone developing dementia every three seconds in America, the demand for caregiving information is growing exponentially. The Center’s experts will share insight on the knowledge and resources families need to make confident decisions for themselves and their loved ones.
About the James L. West Center for Dementia Care For 33 years, the James L. West Center for Dementia Care, a not-for-profit organization, has served those impacted by dementia. Established by Eunice West in honor of her late husband, James L. West, who passed away from dementia, the Center continues to build on its excellence in compassionate care and caregiver and dementia education by expanding its service lines to meet the community’s needs. The Center offers residential care, a Senior Day Program, Short-Term Respite Care, Short-Term Rehabilitation, and professional and family caregiver education, which was recently rebranded as Dementia-IQ Powered by James L. West. Cheryl Harding, Ph.D., has served as President and CEO of the West Center for the past seven years and has led the Center to receive national recognition for excellence and innovation.
