“What is this that I’m feeling, and what is this thing called dementia?” Those are two of the most compelling health questions that senior adults and their families are asking. June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and since dementia continues to gain national attention, the James L. West Center for Dementia Care will host a free six-hour “streamathon” that will showcase and address three timely topics on Monday, June 22.
“Brain health is moving into the foreground as people are asking how to avoid or delay experiencing dementia for either themselves or a loved one,” says Jaime Cobb Tinsley, Vice President of Family & Professional Education at The James L. West Center. She adds, “They are craving information about how to address this disease.”
The streamathon is presented by Dementia-IQ, powered by the James L. West Center for Dementia Care, as an educational outreach program for the community that offers flexible online and in-person training, support groups, and on-demand resources. The Center is a nationally recognized leader in dementia and caregiver education and specialized care for persons living with dementia through long-term and short-term residential care, the Adult Day Program, and At-Home Services.
Interested participants can access the streamathon via Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, featuring the timely topics of:
· Dementia and Communication Essentials
· The Many Faces of Grief During the Caregiving Journey
· New Insights into Brain Health
“We receive calls every day as people want to learn how to care for a loved one with dementia,” continues Tinsley. “They want to discover how to identify the early signs of dementia with a loved one, how to care compassionately, and how to help that loved one maintain their dignity throughout the process.” Dementia impacts more than the estimated 7.2 million Americans diagnosed with the disease, and when one person is diagnosed with dementia, the entire family experiences the disease.
The first session of the streamathon will address “Dementia and Communication Essentials,” which will include early diagnosis, how dementia impacts the person living with the disease, and how to communicate most effectively. The second session will speak to “The Many Faces of Grief During the Caregiving Journey,” which will include a better understanding of how to recognize signs of grief and how to address and resolve those concerns, which are a natural process in the dementia experience. The third session will focus on “New Insights into Brain Health,” and will help participants grasp actions they can take to keep their brain active and engaged, and will share how important nutrition, movement, sleep, and many other lifestyle factors can significantly reduce the risk for developing dementia.
The streamathon reinforces The West Center’s dedication to providing insightful information that can help families who are experiencing dementia or who may experience the disease in the future.
Tinsley concludes, “So many families tell us that they wish they had paid more attention to early warning signs, and they appreciate how helpful and comforting our caregiver education programs are. At The West Center, part of our mission is to help caregivers better understand and provide the compassionate care that brings comfort and support to individuals living with dementia, wherever they are in the dementia journey. We are proud to offer programs that encourage people to take meaningful steps toward healthier aging.”
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, Home Care, and professional and family caregiver education, which was recently rebranded as Dementia-IQ Powered by James L. West.
