Covenant After Dark

Healthcare topics that don’t interrupt your busy day

Please join us on

 Tuesday

September 16th, 2014

6:00 – 8:00 PM

 at

 Atria Regency Senior Living Community

4720 Morrison Drive

Mobile, Alabama 36609

 for

 What’s Your Name Again?

Examining the Differences and Similarities between Normal Aging and Dementia Syndromes

 This seminar will explain the difference between symptoms of a disease and the normal aging process; examine ways to document and report observations of a loved one’s changes in behavior and personality; and review strategies for staying “cognitively young.”

 presented by

 Stephen Zieman, Ph.D, Licensed Psychologist,                 Clinical Neuropsychologist

 Space is limited.

Please reserve your spot with Phyllis Shontell @ 251-599-8551 or

email Phyllis.shontell@covenanthospice.org

Nurses, Nursing Home and Assisted Living Administrators – 2.0 Contact hours

Social Workers – 1.5 Contact hours

The Mobile Museum of Art is offering a free workshop for loved ones and caregivers dealing with early stage Alzheimer’s disease.  Art has the power to touch some of the deepest parts of memory.  Through specifically designed gallery tours, art activity training, and the vital experience of Alzheimer’s professionals, participants are provided with the tools to make meaningful connections through art-making and appreciation.  After the training workshop, participants may volunteer in the Keepsake Tour Program at the Mobile Museum of Art.

Training workshops will be held September 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, and 24. (Mondays and Wednesdays)

6 -8 pm

Free to the Public

Preregister for Keepsake by September 1, 2014.

caregiver college flyer AUG20

Time to sign up for the next Caregiver College. Enhance your skills and knowledge of caring at this one day free event.  Deadline for registration is August 15.

Cheryl Carmichael has written a comprehensive guide for caregivers, entitled “Dare to Care: Caring for our Elders”. From her experiences while working with the Area Agency on Aging in Phoenix, with the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, with the Arizona Department of Health Services, and as caregiver of several family members, she has covered all areas of concern to help keep loved ones living in their own homes as they age.

Written in a conversational manner, her insight for day-to-day activities for memory care loss are relevant, including the essential life story format. She suggests the life story be limited to one page and kept handy so caregivers can be familiar with the person, providing dignity and respect. Her list of meaningful activities for advanced dementia is spot on.

A clever bed bathing guideline is provided along with easy to understand definitions of every caregiving term or actions required for good care. Meal planning ideas, home safety tips, and organizing medical records are covered for individuals who may only require supervisory care to persons who need hands on end of life care.

Finally, she lays out the importance of preparing in advance essential estate planning requirements to carry out long-term care. Funeral planning is also covered in detail.

This guidebook is a practical tool for new or experienced non-professional caregivers. Kept handy for reference while wading through the unfamiliar details of care can provide clarity and instruction for necessary preparations still needed. “Dare to Care” is a good resource for caregiving support or a thoughtful gift for anyone brave enough to dare to care.

This book can be ordered in bulk from Cheryl@DaretoCareElders.com , online at amazon.com , or at your local bookstore. Also available as an e-book on Kindle.

SARPC and the Area Agency on Aging invites you to The SHIP Monthly Medicare Birthday Bash!

With so many options and almost daily post cards arriving at your house, the choice can be confusing and a little overwhelming.

Before you turn 65 come to our monthly Medicare Birthday Bash for help.  See flier for more details.

Turning 65 – Birthday Bash flyer 5-14

It’s finally going to happen – A Walk to End Alzheimer’s is in the planning stages.  It will be held at the Fairhope Pier on September 20, 2014.  The kick-off party is planned for Tuesday, May 13th from 5 – 7 at Laps Grocery and Grill.

Teepa Snow knows how to make a lasting impression.  Her trademark characterizations of dementia keeps her audience engaged and amused.  But dementia is no laughing matter.  Anyone who cares for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia is faced with incomprehensible challenges.  Teepa Snow is on a mission to change the perception of dementia in society and instruct caregivers on positive approach practices.  Her recent visit to Mobile as the featured speaker at the “Lower Alabama 2014 Alzheimer’s and Dementia Conference” was a treat for all in attendance.  “That’s my mother,” was  tearfully said by one participant as Teepa role played out a typical scenario between a mother affected by dementia and her daughter.  Mrs. Snow’s 30 plus years working hands on with dementia patients has made behaviors caused by dementia to be second nature.  She recently published “Dementia Caregiver Guide,”  a family friendly guidebook to understanding the many facets and progression of dementia.  It can be purchased from her website, teepasnow.com.

In her presentation, Mrs. Snow demonstrated techniques for assisting someone with dementia into a car, how to help someone sit down in a chair safely, and how to substitute a dangerous situation with a safe one.  She stressed that understanding the limitations someone may be experiencing is helpful when providing care: realizing that vision is limited,  awareness that while hearing may not be impaired, understanding  meanings of words may be, and that the use of hands and feet are altered. “All due to changes in the brain”, said Teepa Snow, referring to images from the projector that clearly show vacant spots where tissue once was.

The attentive audience got to rehearse techniques with partners to help apply her practical teachings.

Teepa Snow’s keen awareness of people’s behavior makes her an excellent teacher.  Thank you, Teepa Snow, for coming to Mobile and moving us forward in our approach to care.  Thank you Gulf Coast Dementia Services and Mercy Life,  for this invaluable lesson made available to our community today. May all that was learned go forth and multiply throughout our care community.

 Today’s meeting was informative for our community of interested caregivers and dementia services.  Julie McGee, Director of the Area Agency on Aging, discussed the result of the survey taken at the last meeting.  An opportunity was given for participants to sign up for future committees.

Gay Watson, the Area Agency Outreach Coordinator,  reviewed the upcoming Senior Expo and encouraged all to attend.

2014 Mobile Senior Lifestyle Expo (2)Sponsor-booth contract Senior Expo 2014

Della Sanchez, AL Cares Coordinator, made her big announcement that the first Caregiver College is slated for Tuesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 11 from 10:00 to noon each day.  Email Della at dellasanchez@sarpc.org for more information and to sign up as space is limited.

E. A. Roberts Alzheimer’s Center hosts their monthly support group on the second Thursday of each month.  In the June meeting, Dana Adair will speak on “Recognizing Health Changes in the Dementia Patient.”   Come at 10 a.m. and join the conversation.

Complimentary care will be provided during the meeting.   Please call 435-6950 for more information.

The center is located at 169 Mobile Infirmary Boulevard in Mobile, AL  36607.

Plan to attend for senior information and resources or to promote your service.  Click below for the details of the event or for forms needed to obtain a table.

2014 Mobile Senior Lifestyle Expo      (2) Sponsor-booth contract Senior Expo 2014

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Abba Shrine Center

Please contact Gay Watson for information! 251 706-4671