By Linda Frost, Dementia & Caregiver Outreach Coordinator
There is a lot of misinformation around dementia, causing a stigma that negatively affects those who are dealing with dementia.
A study conducted in 2022 found that almost 10% of US adults over 65 have dementia. Meanwhile, more than 80% of Americans report knowing little about dementia or mild cognitive impairment, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The best way to reduce stigma is to educate yourself on dementia – the causes, effects, and needs of an individual with dementia.
CareWell Services and Willard Library are partnering to bring information to the community about dementia to help family members, friends, and caregivers as they care for their loved one with dementia. This series of classes will begin this month with Communicating with Someone with Dementia. This class will take place on Wednesday, March 22 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm at the Willard Library.
What to Expect from this Dementia Support Workshop
During the class, we will discuss what causes dementia and how the brain changes over time once dementia begins. We will look at how this impacts a person’s ability to process and how loved ones can adjust their approach to fit the abilities of their loved one at each stage of their dementia journey.
We will leave time to discuss other relevant topics, such as greeting someone with dementia, noticing non-verbal cues of unmet needs, helping caregivers cope, additional ways to communicate with your loved one, and more. You will leave the class with tips on how to more effectively communicate with someone with dementia and encouragement from being around others who understand what you are experiencing.
To register for Communicating with Someone with Dementia, please call CareWell Services at (269) 441-0930.
Visit CareWell Services’ website at www.carewellservices.org to learn more about our other dementia-related programs, including our April class at Willard Library, Self Care for Caregivers.
