DEMENTIA RESOURCES
Dementia Resources
The videos and resources below support people who care for someone with a terminal diagnosis or chronic condition.
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Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care
Alzheimer’s Association Training and Education Center:
English: training.alz.org/home
UCLA Health Caregiver Training Videos:
English and Spanish: uclahealth.org/dementia/caregiver-education-videos
Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Dementia Care:
Transferring a Person Living with Dementia:
Using a Walker:
Effectively Approaching People Living with Dementia:
Hygiene:
Showering:
Reasons for Refusing Bathing:
Assessing Pain and Administering Medication:
Tips for Medication Refusal:
Considerations about Memory Care or Staying at Home
The Benefits of Music Therapy
The video series was offered to the community free of charge by Hope Hospice & Health Services. Hope Hospice is now part of By the Bay Health.
“Advocating for Your Loved One”
Facilitated by Debbie Emerson, Community Health Educator
Understanding your rights as a caregiver and communicating effectively with healthcare professionals are essential in advocating for loved ones and yourself in a complex healthcare system. Webinar topics will include tips for handling hospitalizations, understanding the discharge process, and planning for follow-up care. Medicare rights and responsibilities will be emphasized.
“Making Decisions About Care Settings – Home vs. Facility”
Facilitated by Christine Sevier at Creating New Hope, Senior Living Advisors
Handling sensitive topics and making difficult decisions about providing care for a loved one, especially when emotions are high, is never easy. Christine Sevier, Senior Living Advisor and CEO of Creating New Hope, will present information about assessing needs, accessing community services and resources, relocating loved ones, and exploring various care settings including in-home and residential care. All webinars are offered at no cost to community members.
“Dementia: Can Dementia Be Prevented? Risk Reduction Strategies”
Facilitated by Debbie Emerson, Community Health Educator and Gia Barsell, Dementia Specialist
While there is no guaranteed way to prevent any of the underlying causes of dementia, there are steps one can take, at any age, to potentially reduce the risk or delay its onset. From this webinar, attendees will gain an understanding of the role that genetics play in developing dementia and learn about the lifestyle choices that may have a positive impact on brain health.
“Dementia: Teepa Snow’s GEMs Model”
Facilitated by Debbie Emerson and Gia Barsell
Leading dementia-care expert Teepa Snow has developed a unique framework to help care partners identify and understand the stages of dementia based on a person’s cognitive abilities and functions. In this webinar, Hope’s dementia specialists will provide an overview of this helpful model, which uses a variety of colorful gemstones as a metaphor for different stages of dementia. Participants will learn how each gem stage has both strengths and limitations, and how to adjust care tactics to meet changing needs.
“Dementia: Understanding Behaviors as Communication”
Facilitated by Debbie Emerson, Community Health Educator and Gia Barsell, Dementia Specialist
As the conditions that cause dementia progress, communication becomes challenged and persons living with dementia increasingly rely on their behaviors to express their needs. In this webinar, caregivers will gain an understanding of how to assess, interpret, and respond to dementia-related behaviors in a manner that can improve communication and promote meaningful connections.
“End-of-Life Legal and Financial Issues”
Facilitated by Debbie Emerson and Julie Fiedler, RN, Attorney at Law, Horizon Elder Law, San Ramon
When facing the incapacity of a loved one, reliance on professionals will ensure that families receive the most accurate information about options and protection. An elder law attorney will share information about establishing powers of attorney, trusts and wills, paying for long-term care and accessing government assistance programs.
“Dementia: Dementia Basics”
Facilitated by Debbie Emerson and Gia Barsell
Since dementia dramatically changes the ways that individuals think, perceive, communicate and behave, caring for a loved one with dementia presents a unique set of challenges. Hope Hospice’s dementia specialists will discuss the nature and progression of dementia and the various diseases and conditions that can produce its symptoms. Participants will gain a basic understanding of the ways in which dementia can impact the brain and behavior.
“Dementia: Normal Signs of Again vs. Dementia Symptoms”
Facilitated by Debbie Emerson and Gia Barsell
Have you ever worried whether some of the memory challenges you or a loved one are experiencing are “normal?” Could they be a sign of something else? As we age, our brains and our bodies undergo changes. We may experience instances where we process information more slowly, or we may have trouble recalling names or dates; these can be examples of typical age-related changes. But what are the indicators that these changes may be due to something more serious such as mild cognitive impairment or dementia? When might it be time to visit the doctor for an evaluation? Hope Hospice’s dementia specialists will discuss these questions and more.
“Handling Grief and Loss”
Facilitated by Debbie Emerson and Michele Shimamura LMFT
No matter how thoroughly one has prepared for the inevitability of death, when the time comes it still can be a shock to the system. In this webinar, a local marriage and family therapist will discuss the complexities of grief and loss, including anticipatory grief and ambiguous loss. Participants will be provided with coping strategies to help them both during the final stages of life and after their loved one has passed.
“Self-Care for the Caregiver”
Facilitated by Debbie Emerson and Gia Barsell
The stress that caregivers experience as their loved one declines can be staggering. The constant fluctuation of changing roles, uncertainty about the future, and fatigue may ultimately result in compromised health and family dysfunction. This webinar will focus on understanding the causes of stress, strategies for coping, and the importance of seeking support and utilizing resources.
“End-of-Life Issues: Hospice and Palliative Care”
Facilitated by Debbie Emerson
End-of-life care refers to both the medical care and the emotional support that patients and caregivers receive when death is imminent. While the dying process can vary greatly from individual to individual, in this webinar Hope Hospice staff will share general information about what to expect in the final days of life, transitioning to palliative (comfort) care, selecting hospice services, and making funeral arrangements.
“Dementia: New Dementia Diagnosis – Next Steps”
Facilitated by Debbie Emerson and Gia Barsell
Hearing a medical professional confirm that the memory issues you (or a loved one) have been experiencing are, in fact, early symptoms of dementia would understandably be cause for concern. While it may only be natural to think about the worst-case scenario, receiving a dementia diagnosis early on is actually a good thing, giving you and your caregivers more time to plan for the challenges that lie ahead. Hope Hospice’s dementia specialists will share resources and strategies to help individuals and families prepare for the inevitable changes a dementia diagnosis will bring.
“Dementia: Living With Dementia: Managing Daily Care”
Facilitated by Debbie Emerson and Gia Barsell
Providing daily care for a loved one with dementia can present overwhelming demands on the caregiver, often leading to frustration and exhaustion. With the goal of enhancing the overall well-being of all involved, this webinar offers strategies for planning daily activities such as dressing, dining, personal hygiene and exercising, as well as social and leisure activities.
“Making Decisions About Caregiving”
Facilitated by Debbie Emerson and Gia Barsell
Handling sensitive topics and making difficult decisions about providing for care for a loved one, especially when emotions are high, is never easy. This webinar will cover information about assessing needs, working together with caregivers, accessing community services and resources, relocating loved ones, and exploring various care settings including in-home and residential care.
“Navigating the Healthcare Environment: Advocating for Your Loved One”
Understanding your rights and learning to communicate effectively with healthcare professionals are essential in advocating for your loved ones and yourself in a complex healthcare system. Webinar topics will include tips for communicating effectively with healthcare professionals, handling hospitalizations, and understanding the discharge process and follow-up care.
“The ABC’s of Long Term Care: An Overview of Long Term Care”
Facilitated by Debbie Emerson and Jennifer Pardini/ Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program Alameda County