Ann's Forums
Print
EmailHi, I'm Ann.
The Alzheimer's-Dementia Road is one of the most difficult personal challenges anyone ever faces. I've shared the difficult journey many times, and I'm here to help, and to ask you to help others.
For a bit on my professional background, just scroll down.
Your participation is appreciated, whether you are helping other people, asking questions, reaching out for support, or just sharing information and insight. To add your thoughts, comments and suggestions, just go to one of my forums by selecting it from the FORUMS menu at the top of any page, or click on one of these links:
Discussions between people with a dementia such as Alzheimer's
Once you are in the forum, you can always ask a new question or start a new topic of discussion by simply clicking on the NEW TOPIC button, which appears near the top of the forum and looks like this:
If you enter a topic that has already been started, add your own words by clicking on the REPLY or POST REPLY button. They look like this:
It's amazing what one gives and gets from a few supportive words.
I'm always here to offer what help I can.
Looking forward to talking with you,
Ann
About Ann
Ann is a licensed & registered clinical social worker with a decade of experience helping those who face issues that come with the world of Alzheimer's, dementia and aging in general. She understands how hard and complex those issues are, both from her professional and personal life. Preparations, facing the future, daily living, caregiving, children and grandchildren, moving to a care facility, helping families through their trauma, getting help, accepting help - the list is long and difficult.
Ann has 18 years of experience as a social worker, and has been in private practice much of that time. Over the years, her work done in helping people through their difficulties has been recognized by a number of awards from government agencies and private organizations.
Ann holds a Master's degree in Social Work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, New York and her license is certified by the State of New York.
Discussions between people with a dementia such as Alzheimer's
More Information
.
Senior Helpers will be hosting a FREE Alzheimers/Dementia class presented by Teepa Snow. If you provide care for those struggling with this Alzheimers or Dementia, this is the one event you cannot miss. This event can provide up to 3 continuing education units. Coming up, Teepa will be in Tampa, Florida on May 4th and 5th.
You can register for free here: http://www
Full Press Release and Event List Below:
#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#
Half of all Americans know someone who has Alzheimer’s disease – a disease that has now replaced cancer as the most feared disease among seniors. It affects more than five million people in the United States; and that number is expected to reach 13 million within the next fifteen years!
While we wait for a cure for this debilitating disease, a nationally renowned Alzheimer’s and dementia care expert, Teepa Snow, is beginning a year-long, 24 city tour. Teepa provides FREE, riveting, hands-on Do’s and Don’ts to teach people how to better care for their elderly loved ones suffering with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Her ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for not only the seniors but also families and caregivers struggling to cope with these diseases.
These seminars are so moving, Teepa will bring you to tears with her extraordinary gift for acting out the real-life horrors and hopes of caring for a failing loved one. Families and caregivers will walk away with communication tools they can immediately use in their everyday lives. Teepa’s tour is sponsored by Senior Helpers, one of the nation’s fastest growing in-home care companies and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, a national non-profit organization serving Alzheimer’s patients and their families and caregivers. Teepa’s first stop is in Atlanta, Georgia on May 3, 2012. Her final stop is in northern New Jersey on April 23, 2013.
“It’s vital that we act now because our families are suffering. They don’t understand Alzheimer’s and dementia – and there’s no one to teach them,” says Teepa Snow. “That’s why I’ve teamed up with Senior Helpers and the AFA. I want to give families answers and show them, in practical terms, how to improve the quality of life for Alzheimer’s patients and themselves, through better communication.”
Teepa Snow is also an occupational therapist and creator of the new, revolutionary Senior Gems program. Teepa assigns each stage of dementia to a gem, like a diamond or ruby, which helps caregivers better navigate every mood and movement of a loved one who is deteriorating before their very eyes. For example, when caring for a sapphire, you should always offer options and suggestions rather than tell them what to do. But for an amber, you need to limit the number of words you use when communicating with them and it’s important to also give them visual cues. Each family that attends the local seminars will walk away with a free Senior Gems DVD.
“This tour is a way for me to not only help caregivers and families cope, it’s also a chance for me to educate the nation about these diseases that are taking an emotional and physical toll on everyone they touch,” says Teepa. “I can’t bring these families a cure, but I can help them conquer their fears by giving them the power of knowledge and show them how to better communicate and cope.”
After families hear Teepa speak (cities listed below), they can also visit the AFA Quilt To Remember (provided in select cities by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America). It’s an emotionally moving and colorful tribute to loved ones and caregivers who fought the disease. It spans 12,700 square feet and is touring the U.S. for the next five years.
“Teepa Tips” for Working With People Who Have Dementia:
17% of caregivers report their health has gotten worse as a result of family caregiving. Here are tips to help caregivers better communicate.
Offer Supportive NOT Confrontational Communication
Emphasize what you want to have happen, NOT who’s the boss or who’s right
Recognize the value of mistakes or ‘UH OHs’ – and turn them into new strategies and ‘AH HAs!’
Provide short, simple information rather than asking questions
Offer concrete and clear options or choices rather than wide open requests that require both word-finding and decision-making to answer
Teepa Tour: Coming to a city near you
Atlanta, GA – May 3, 2012
Tampa, FL – May 4-5, 2-12
Nashville, TN – June 7-8, 2012
Portland, OR – June 21, 2012
Charlotte, NC – July 13, 2012
Northern California – August 12-13, 2012
Los Angeles/Orange County, CA – August 14-15, 2012
San Diego, CA – August 15-16, 2012
Phoenix, AZ – August 16-17, 2012
Washington, D.C. (metro area) – October 4, 2012
Philadelphia, PA – October 5, 2012
Cleveland, OH – October 22, 2012
Minneapolis, MN – October 26, 2012
Kansas City, MO – November 2, 2012
Long Island, NY – December 10, 2012
Boston, MA – December 11, 2012
Dallas, TX – January 7-8, 2013
Denver, CO – January 9, 2013
Louisville, KY – January 23, 2013
Miami, FL – January 25, 2013
Indianapolis, IN – March 11, 2013
Chicago, IL – March 12, 2013
Detroit, MI – March 14, 2013
North Jersey – April 23, 2013