Educational Classes and Support Groups

Family Caregiver | One  Hour | Mild Cognitive Impairment/Early Memory Loss | Support Groups

Family Caregiver Classes:

Series - Stress Busting for Family Caregivers (9 classes) -
This multi-component program provides caregivers the tools and strategies they need to take care of themselves. It helps caregivers (1) learn about stress and its effects (2) practice stress management techniques, and (3) develop problem solving skills.

Series - Coping With Caregiving (4 classes) - 
This series of 4 classes will focus on the family caregiver, providing useful tips and practical methods to help to understand the emotions felt in caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or other related dementia. Classes will address the emotional side of caregiving, covering topics such as Anger, Grief, Guilt, & Depression, as well as looking at the positive side of caregiving and the personal growth that many caregivers experience through this journey.

Series - Advanced Dementia-
Care Training for Family Caregivers with Patricia De Angelis, RN: “Nutrition Issues for Dementia Patients” - Ensuring that your loved one is eating enough nutritious foods and drinking enough fluids is a challenge. People with dementia literally begin to forget that they need to eat and drink. Complicating the issue may be dental problems or medications that decrease appetite or make food taste “funny.” The consequences of poor nutrition are many, including weight loss, irritability, sleeplessness, bladder or bowel problems and disorientation. This class addresses the essentials of good nutrition and the challenges faced by a person with dementia ~ early to advanced stages.

“Skin Care and Incontinence Care” -
Learn at-home skills, techniques and strategies to keep your loved one’s skin healthy as their disease progresses and learn how to prevent and manage incontinence and what products are available to help you deal effectively with the needs that develop through the stages of Alzheimer's disease or related dementia.

Caring for the Caregiver and Communication Techniques -
In this class, our instructor discusses the importance of “caring for yourself”. Taking actions to care for yourself can bring relief and help you from getting ill or depressed. As your loved one moves through advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, you will need more help and also need to have your advanced support system in place and avoid “burnout”.

Prevention of Falls and Injuries -
This class discusses practical ways of helping you better care for a person with memory loss and confusionâ?¦in the home and beyondâ?¦by creating a safe environment and preparing for emergencies as the disease progresses. Falls can be debilitating as they can lead to a downward spiral of reduced activities of daily living, potential loss of independence, and an increased fear of falling.

Observing and Reporting Medical Health Conditions -
As Alzheimer’s disease advances, it is important to know signs and symptoms of Medical Health Conditions and when and how to report your observations to the appropriate medical personnel. This class helps those caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s and related dementias build confidence and advanced caregiving skills to enhance home care.

Series - Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s Disease —
When a family member has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, it is often difficult to understand and know how to respond to the person with the disease. This class will provide you with an overview of the disease, prepare you for what to expect, and offer practical tips on dealing with the person with memory loss whether living in a retirement community or at home. The 3 week class is geared for the family member of someone with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. Each week will cover a different topic.

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Classes — One Hour: 

Next Steps after Diagnosis — A family member just received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia and now you are wondering what you need to do next. This class will provide an overview of the next steps on how to move forward after diagnosis. The class is geared for the new family caregiver and is intended to be an hour in length but may vary dependent on discussion/questions from class participants.

Alzheimer’s Disease: The Basics — a review of normal age related cognitive changes and non-normal changes.

Frontotemporal Disorders — This is a general introductory class for the family caregiver of someone with

Frontotemporal dementia-This class provides an overview of causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Lewy Body Dementia - When you think of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is often the one you think of first but there are other types, including Dementia of the Lewy body type. If a family member has received a diagnosis, come and learn more about it, what to expect and how to manage.

Caregiving 101: How to Survive Being a Caregiver - Caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease or a related memory disorder is a life changing experience. Learn new ways to adapt to your new role as a caregiver by understanding some of the emotions and stages of caregiving. The class is intended for the family caregiver.

When It’s Not Alzheimer’s - We always hear about Alzheimer’s disease, but what about the other types of dementia? Gain a greater understanding of Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia and how to manage the care of a family member with one of these diagnosis’.

Parkinson’s Disease: Overview — What is Parkinson’s disease and how to best manage are some of the topics discussed in the class.

Community Presentations Available covering topics related to What’s Normal/What’s Not with Memory, etc.

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Classes/Groups for people with Mild Cognitive Impairment/Early Memory Loss:

Series - Mindset (6 classes) —Administration on Aging funded innovation grant based on research by Dr. David Loewenstien and designed for individuals with mild cognitive impairment/early memory loss and their care partners. Classes will teach skills that help build cognitive skills and to stimulate memory and thinking. The research-based exercises can be used at home and may help to improve memory, thinking, and behavior. Ongoing classes will be held throughout the year. To see if you are a candidate for the next session call the Memory Clinic at 321.434.7614.

Series - The first steps — Early Alzheimer’s Support and Education — Developed and co-facilitated by the Alzheimer’s Association - The first steps program empowers individuals diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, and their family member or care partner(s), to become active participants in their care by educating them about the disease as well as care and treatment options. The topics to be covered are as follows: Alzheimer’s disease; Daily Living; Medical Update; Communication/Relationships; Legal Issues; Resources for the Future. Participants must have completed a formal assessment and received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia; be aware of the diagnosis and be able to participate in the group; and want to participate. For more information please call the Alzheimer’s Association at 800.272.3900.

Living with Early Alzheimer’s Disease - You or a family member have recently been diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s disease and now you are wondering how to adjust and move forward. This presentation will provide suggestions on how to deal with a diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s disease. This is intended as a one time information class for both the person with early Alzheimer’s disease and the family care partner to take together.

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Support Groups:

Dementia Caregiver’s Support Groups — If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia, join us weekly for support, inspiration, and connection with other people who are caregivers. For more information and to reserve for respite, please call The Center for Family Caregivers at 321.434.7625. 

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