WellMed Charitable Foundation

Online - ABC’s of Vascular Dementia
2022-04-07 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago)
Join Dr Tam Cummings as she discusses what Vascular Dementia is. She will explore what the signs of Vascular dementia are as well as the causes and how it is different from other types of dementias.
**Sponsored by VITAS Healthcare**

Dementia Diagnosis and Treatment
2022-04-12 10:00 - 11:00
Dementia is a scary term and is often misunderstood. Dementia isn’t defined as a specific disease. It is generally described as a group of symptoms which affect cognitive and social abilities to the extent that they interfere with the functions of daily living. Dementia is usually confused with Alzheimer’s because it is the most common type; however, there are symptoms of dementia that are caused by other conditions – some of which may even be reversible. Nestor H. Praderio, MD will review the dementia diagnosis process and explain the types of dementia including symptoms and stages. He will also outline intervention and treatment options.

What caregivers need to know about hallucinations and paranoia in persons with dementia
2022-04-14 10:00 - 11:00
Join Dear Lucy for this interactive discussion focusing on the different behaviors that occur when someone with dementia is experiencing hallucinations or paranoia. She will share tips on why this happens as well as how to manage and cope with the behaviors.

CaregiverTeleconnection · Dementia And Paranoia April 14

Online-The ABC’s of Alzheimer’s
2022-05-05 13:00 - 14:00
This session will cover the history, domains and variations of Dementias of the Alzheimer’s Type. Knowing and understanding the effects of the disease on a Person with Dementia will be discussed along with stress relief tips for the family caregiver. **Sponsored by VITAS Healthcare**

Online - Stress and the Dementia Caregiver
2022-06-02 13:00 - 14:00
The family caregiver for a loved one with dementia is dangerously bombarded by stress. The level of care and length of time during home care can lead to devastating results. Even to the point of the caregiver’s death. This session will explore the stress, grief, and reality of care at home. Tools for measuring caregiver stress will be shared, including measurements for grief, stress, anxiety, and depression.
**Sponsored by VITAS Healthcare**

The ABCs of Frontotemporal Dementias (FTDs)
2022-08-04 13:00 - 14:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
This session will discuss the various forms of FTD and how to stage a loved one. The fifth most common dementia, the FTDs are unique for the behaviors displayed due to brain damage and the young age of Persons With FTD. **Sponsored by VITAS Healthcare**

Late Life Depression and Dementia
2022-08-09 10:00 - 11:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
Can depression in later life be linked to cognitive decline or even dementia? Nestor H. Praderio, MD will discuss Late Life Depression including diagnosis, risks and treatment options. Learn the symptoms of depression and understand the triggers for this common illness affecting an increasing number of adults 65 and older.

Dementia and the Hidden Patient
2022-08-30 13:00 - 14:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
Many feelings are experienced as Alzheimer’s caregivers, yet they often go unaddressed. Oftentimes caregivers live in the shadows of their loved ones with different forms of dementia. Join Dr. Natalee Oliver, DSW to discover why it is important to take care of yourself without feeling guilty, so you are not the hidden patient.

Talking to children about dementia
2022-09-01 13:00 - 14:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
Explaining why a parent or grandparent is acting differently can be a challenge.
This session will discuss how to talk with preteens, teens and young adults about dementia and how to assist them in their grief. **Sponsored by VITAS Healthcare**

Dear Lucy: Understanding the signs of paranoia, hallucinations and delusional behaviors
2022-09-08 10:00 - 11:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
If you are caring for a loved one with dementia you need to know the signs of paranoia, hallucinations, and delusional behaviors. Please join Dear Lucy as she will discuss the symptoms to look for and ways to redirect and distract your loved one if needed. She will also provide tips on how to manage the behaviors you may see.

Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias: How to Prevent Them
2022-09-20 10:00 - 11:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
Paul Bendheim, MD, Clinical Professor of Neurology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, founder of BrainSavers, and author of The Brain Training Revolution will summarize the new science of the aging brain. He will discuss:
• What are the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease?
• How modifying risk factors can prevent millions of cases.
• What can each of us do in our daily lives to reduce our personal risk by as much as 50%.

Ask Dr Tam about Staging your loved one
2022-10-06 13:00 - 14:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
This session will share how to use the Dementia Behavioral Assessment Tool, the FTD Staging Tool, ADL and IADL Staging Tools to assist your doctor in understanding how advanced your loved one’s disease process is and to help the family caregiver prepare for the dementia journey. **Sponsored by VITAS Healthcare**

What Caregivers Can Do: Tips for Caregivers of Alzheimer’s & Related Dementia Patients
2022-11-02 10:00 - 11:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
Caregivers often feel like so much is out of their control, but that’s not always the case. This program will focus on the positive aspects of caregiving and ways to take control of what is possible.

Dear Lucy: Dementia and Inappropriate Sexual Behavior
2022-11-15 10:00 - 11:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
Lucy Barylak, MSW will discuss why some persons with dementia exhibit inappropriate sexual behavior. She will also provide tips for caregivers on how to respond to a loved one who displays inappropriate sexual behaviors.

Dementia or Alzheimer’s - Understanding the Difference
2023-01-10 10:00 - 11:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
When a diagnosis of Dementia is issued people usually assume that it is Alzheimer’s and often reference the two interchangeably. It is widely believed that Dementia and Alzheimer’s are the same thing. They are not! While Alzheimer’s may be the most common and widely recognized form of Dementia – it is not the only type. Nestor H. Praderio, M.D. will explain how Dementia refers to an umbrella term of symptoms which impact a person’s ability to function on their own. He will also outline how Dementia, in some instances may be reversed, however, Alzheimer’s is an incurable disease. The session will conclude following a Q&A period.

Dementia and the Hidden Patient
2023-01-19 12:00 - 13:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
Oftentimes caregivers live in the shadows of their loved ones with different forms of dementia. Join Dr. Natalee Oliver, DSW to discover why it is important to take care of yourself without feeling guilty, so you are not the hidden patient.

Beginning the Dementia Journey part 2
2023-03-02 13:00 - 14:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
This is the second session in a two part series. Please join Dr. Tam Cummings as she reviews the steps and challenges encountered by the family caregiver as it becomes apparent the loved one has cognitive issues. Please come with any questions you have about the disease and/or the challenges you may be experiencing. **Sponsored by Vitas Healthcare**

Behavioral Distrubances in Dementia
2023-03-14 10:00 - 11:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
Cognitive decline in Dementia patients is progressive and creates significant psychological distress. This combined with Behavioral Disturbances of Dementia results in even bigger challenges for Caregivers. The degree of the associated symptoms and the level of disruption of family life as well as the safety of the patient often leads to decisions regarding long-term care.
Dr. Praderio will outline the most common behavioral disturbances associated with dementia such as Agitation, both Verbal Aggression (obscenities, accusation, etc.) and Physical Aggression (pacing, biting, hitting), Wandering, Hoarding, Sleep Disturbances, Sexual Inhibition, Hallucinations, and others. Nestor H. Praderio, M.D. will lead a candid discussion on the potential for escalating dangers associated with behavioral problems as well as the havoc it may create for caregiver burnout and the overall welfare of the patient. The session will conclude with a question and answer period.

Dear Lucy: Dementia and Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors
2023-04-13 10:00 - 11:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
Join Lucy Barylak, MSW as she identifies different types of inappropriate sexual behaviors and why they happen. By the end of the session, participants will have a better understanding as to why the behaviors happen and have some tools to use to manage these behaviors. There will be time to ask questions during the session. And at the end of the session, Lucy will stay on the line and offer personal support.

Dementia and Ambiguous Loss
2023-04-20 12:00 - 13:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
There are many types of losses that those aged 65 and over experience and they are not all related to death. As caregivers to those who live with Alzheimer’s, we lose our loved one while they are still living. We grieve as we walk alongside them through this journey and then we grieve again, once they pass away. Join Dr. Natalee Oliver, DSW as she shares about ambiguous loss and what it means and how to cope with it.

Frontotemporal Degeneration: What it is, What it isn’t and What are the Signs and Symptoms
2023-05-16 10:00 - 11:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
You may have recently heard in the news about the FTD diagnosis for actor Bruce Willis. This dementia is highly misunderstood, even in the medical community, and takes families up to 4 years to get a proper diagnosis. She will explain what signs show up first, how to get an accurate diagnosis, and what to do after you receive the diagnosis.

In-home Care and Long-Term Care for Advanced Alzheimer’s and Dementia
2023-06-06 10:00 - 11:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
Providing around the clock care for a loved one with Advanced Alzheimer’s and Dementia can be challenging. This session will review types of In-home services, types of residential care, choosing a care setting, questions to ask, and costs.

Ask Dr. Tam
2023-06-06 13:00 - 14:00
Caregiver Teleconnection sessions are one hour learning sessions that can be done via Zoom or over the phone for caregivers of older persons. Experts from around the country share information important to caregiving. Caregivers will have the opportunity to ask questions as well as hear from other caregivers.
Our sessions are geared for the family members taking care of a loved one over the age of 60. Professionals are also welcome to participate as well.
What kind of questions do you have about dementia? As a caregiver, how do you survive the journey? Dr. Tam Cummings will cover quick stress relief tips and answer any questions you have about dementia. **Sponsored by VITAS Healthcare**

What can caregivers do when the person with dementia refuses personal daily care
2023-07-13 10:00 - 11:00
The session will address different methods on how to deal and cope with these difficult situations. There will be a review on dementia and some reasons behind these behaviors. Lucy will also provide helpful tips- on bathing, dressing, mouth care and grooming.

Ask Dr. Tam Questions
2023-08-01 13:00 - 17:00
What kind of questions do you have about dementia? As a caregiver, how do you survive the journey? Dr. Tam Cummings will cover quick stress relief tips and answer any questions you have about dementia.

Why Does Dementia Cause Hallucinations, Delusions, and Paranoia
2023-08-10 10:00 - 11:00
Join Lucy as she discusses what the symptoms of hallucinations, delusions and paranoia are and what causes the behaviors that can happen during these episodes. She will share tips on what to do when it happens. At the end of this session Lucy will stay on the line and offer personal support.

The Other Dementias
2023-08-14 12:00 - 13:00
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, but other types of dementia each have a unique pattern of impairment and clinical course. This discussion will cover the most common of these other types of dementia. **Sponsored by the North Central Texas Caregiver Teleconnection**

Toileting, Incontinence and Dementia, and what you need to Know
2023-09-14 10:00 - 11:00
It is often common for people to have more difficulties using the toilet as they age, particularly if they have dementia. Incontinence and accidents can cause problems, especially as the person’s dementia progresses. This can be very challenging for caregivers to handle and manage. The session will focus on why this happens and tips for caregivers on how to deal with and manage this delicate matter.

Healthy Brain and Healthy Aging
2023-09-21 12:00 - 13:00
For centuries, we’ve known that the health of the brain and the body are connected. But now, science is able to provide insights into how to make lifestyle choices that may help you keep your brain and body healthy as you age. Join us to learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging. Join Dr. Natalee Oliver, DSW as we dive deeper into our own brain, body & emotional health all while reducing our risk factors to develop different forms of dementia.

Understanding and Managing Behavioral Symptoms with LBD – Techniques of Support and Information for Medical Discussions
2023-09-26 12:00 - 13:00
Are you a care partner supporting someone with Lewy body dementia? This presentation will provide a deeper dive into symptoms that can be experienced by those with LBD – especially altered perceptions, cognitive fluctuations, and issues with sleep. It will provide additional information on techniques of support for symptoms – as well as provide additional content to discuss with medical providers.
