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alzheimers, alzheimers education, banner alzheimers institute, caregiving, dementia, dementia webinar
Here are some amazing 2015 online education opportunities, straight from The Banner Institute.
Scheduled each third Wednesday, Dementia Dialogues offers a different, pertinent webinar topic each month. For those who are not comfortable with the Internet or who don’t have access, an exclusively audio version is offered as well.
The January webinar will take place this coming Wednesday, Jan 21. Click here to learn more and register!
January 21 – Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Dementia but were Afraid to Ask: There is a lot of conflicting information, misinformation and unanswered questions surrounding Alzheimer’s and dementia. Join us to gain some clarity with dementia as our experts discuss some questions commonly posed to them. Come prepared to ask your unanswered questions.
February 18 – Lack of Insight into Dementia: “My person is in denial about their illness” is a phrase heard all too often in the dementia world. However, some people with this disease are simply unable to see changes within themselves – they have lack of insight. During this Dialogue, you will learn the difference between denial and lack of insight, and will receive strategies to avoid confrontation with a person who cannot accept cognitive losses.
March 18 – Planning for Care across the Stages of Dementia: Dementia is a disease that requires planning – constantly. Each stage brings unique challenges and needs and by being pro-active rather than reactive, caregivers can help lighten their load and have the confidence they are making decisions as their person would wish. Learn about specific plans that should be made during the various stages of dementia.
April 15 – Alzheimer’s Medications: Observing benefit of the approved medications for the treatment Alzheimer’s disease can be difficult to see as they don’t modify the course of the disease but can assist in managing symptoms. Join this Dialogue to learn about medications, reasonable expectations for use, potential side effects and tips for common issues.
May 20 – Planning Successful Travel: Travel is a joy that many people share throughout their lives. When someone develops dementia, many strategies for daily life can be disrupted by leaving home. While it may require extra thought, travel can still be enjoyable for someone with dementia. Just in time for summer travel, learn tactics to make your trips as successful as possible.
June 17 – Men as Caregivers: Many men are finding themselves caring for their wife or mother with dementia. It turns out that some stereotypical male qualities can come in quite handy for caregivers of someone with dementia. Join this frank discussion to learn strategies from some successful male caregivers.
And coming during the second half of 2015:
July 15 – Understanding Psychosis
August 19 – Maintaining Realistic Expectations as Dementia Progresses
September 16 – Best Lessons from Powerful Tools for Caregiving
October 21 – How and When to Execute Powers of Attorney
November 18 – Preparing for the Holidays
December 16 – The Gift of Presence
draws to a close, I’ve been thinking a lot about the pressure caregivers feel to be perfect. I see this on a regular basis through my role as co-moderator of the 
Available for 
“Expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you held them, the more likely they were to crack.” ― Brandon Sanderson
Back in 2010, I decided Thanksgiving would be just like old times if I cooked the traditional meal at Mom’s residential memory care home. That would solve everything; I actually convinced myself that if I tried hard enough, I could create holiday utopia. 
I was crushed, but I had broken the cardinal rule of dealing with dementia – I had created a fantasy that would have been impossible to live up to under the most ideal of circumstances. Simply put, I set myself up for major disappointment.
Set aside some quiet time to spend with your loved one on Thanksgiving. Prepare visitors ahead of time, especially if they aren’t accustomed to dealing with dementia and its challenges.
The Long and Winding Road... 