X.U. dementia care seminar for professionals & caregivers

For the third year, Xavier University’s College of Social Sciences, Health and Education will offer Inter-Professional Teaming for Clients with Dementia. Nationally-recognized speaker Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, will educate caregivers, professionals and students on care for persons with dementia. Alzheimer’s is the best known type of dementia, but many people deal with other forms of the disease. Approximately 200 students and professionals have participated in each of the previous year’s seminars.

This is the first year that, in addition to the event for students and professionals, an evening community service event for family and caregivers of those with dementia will occur.

Registration is required at www.xavier.edu/OT/dementia.cfm by March 18. Both sessions will be at Schiff Conference Center at Xavier’s Cintas Center. Free parking is available in the Cintas Center C1-C5 Lots (entrance off Herald Avenue). Seminars are free of charge for Xavier University faculty, staff and students. (Registration is still required but no CEUs are provided.) Please e-mail tunningleyj@xavier.edu with questions.

Seminar for Professionals: Teaming for Success for Clients with Dementia
Thursday, March 24 from 1 to 2:40 p.m., $ 20 per person. 1.5 CEU for counselors, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, and social workers. Skilled clinicians can now recognize and diagnose over 50 forms or causes of dementia. Each has identifying characteristics. Some are reversible or can be stabilized, whereas others are irreversible, progressive and terminal. Early detection has significant benefits. Multiple disciplines of professionals offer services for clients with dementia and their families or caregivers. Combining efforts can provide optimal services and supports to such clients. This seminar will examine the nature of dementia and the role of inter-professional teaming in helping individuals with dementia and their caregivers.

Presentation for Caregivers & Family Members: Understand the Symptoms & Make Good Choices
Thursday, March 24. 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. $5 per person/maximum of $10 per family. This session helps care providers and family members understand how their actions and responses influence the composure and independence of a person with dementia. The behavior of persons living with dementia can change from one moment to the next and can be different with each person. These variations make it seem like the person with dementia is deliberately choosing his/her behavior. This session helps caregivers understand how a different approach can lead to more positive outcomes and interactions with the dementia patient.

Teepa Snow is an occupational therapist with over 28 years of geriatric experience and a specialist in dementia care and education. She has clinical appointments with Duke University's School of Nursing and UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Medicine. Snow is widely known for her exceptional teaching and presentation style.