WellMed Charitable Foundation

Ask Dr. Tam Questions
2023-08-01 13:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)
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.

Current Issues in Long Term Care
2023-07-25 10:00 - 11:00
This session addresses current hot topics in long term care, and data that caregivers should know about concern long term care facilities. We’ll discuss caregiver and staff concerns.

Help, I am a “people-pleaser” and it’s killing me!
2023-07-20 12:00 - 13:00
How many times have you said yes to a request when deep down you either did not have time to do it or did not want to do it? How many times have you put others’ needs before your own? Successful caregiving involves balancing your loved one’s needs and other family members’ needs with your own needs. Join Dr. Oliver as she shares strategies on how to learn to say “no” and how you can become a recovered “people-pleaser.”

Why Family Caregivers Should Say “No”
2023-07-18 11:00 - 12:00
Family caregivers often feel uncomfortable setting limits and saying “no” to the family members they are caring for because they don’t want to feel guilty. But saying “no” can be good for caregivers and care receivers. Psychologist and author Barry Jacobs will lead a conversation about how to say “no” to improve the well-being of the caregiver and care receiver and therefore avoid all guilt.

La diferencia entre cuidados paliativos y el hospicio
2023-07-14 11:00 - 12:00
La doctora Liliana Oakes compartirá las definiciones y diferencias entre los servicios de hospicio y cuidados paliativos (cuidados de apoyo). Utilizará historias reales para demostrar estos conceptos y equipar y alentar a los pacientes y cuidadores a beneficiarse de estos servicios de manera oportuna.

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.

"Behavioral Disturbances in Dementia"
2023-07-11 10:00 - 11:00
Cognitive decline in Dementia patients is progressive and creates significant psychological distress. 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.

Family Diplomacy -- Strategies to Align and Balance Your Care Team
2023-07-10 12:00 - 13:00
This session will highlight the primary caregiver’s role as family ambassador and discuss common challenges support systems face. Participants will learn how to compartmentalize and delegate responsibilities, how to work around disruptive family members, and how to break the patterns of old family assumptions. **Sponsored by the North Central Texas Caregiver Teleconnection**

Ask Dr. Tam Questions
2023-07-06 13:00 - 14:00
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.
**Sponsored by VITAS Healthcare**

The Pride of Caring: Issues for LGBTQ Caregivers & Professionals Part 4
2023-06-28 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.
Mental Health Among LGBTQ+ Caregivers LGBTQ+ adults more commonly experience mental health concerns than their non-LGBTQ peers. The stress of caregiving, and isolation that caregivers experience can further these concerns. We’ll address this important health issue during this interactive session.

Emotional Intelligence Institute: Caregiving through the Lens of Self Awareness
2023-06-22 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.
Most of us go through life running on autopilot. We make it through the day – and we don’t wonder why our day went the way it did. We don’t examine how we felt or the actions we took. We don’t practice self-awareness.
Self-awareness is the cornerstone of emotional intelligence. It allows you to improve every area of your life by taking responsibility for your emotions, thoughts and actions. It can increase confidence, creativity and decision-making skills. It can improve your relationships and your career.
But what is self-awareness really? It isn’t a personality trait or a magical spell. It’s something you can develop with the right tools and a powerful desire.
Join Dr. Jamie as he dispels self-awareness and helps you open up to your full potential and provide a fresh perspective of how you see your life and those you care for.

The Pride of Caring: Issues for LGBTQ Caregivers & Professionals Part 3
2023-06-21 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.
Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and the LGBTQ+ Community Did you know that LGBTQ+ older adults exhibit several health disparities which increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other dementias? Join us to discuss this important topic.

The Conversation Project – tips for talking about wishes for care through the end of life
2023-06-20 11:00 - 12:00
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 provide suggestions and messaging principles to elicit What Matters to someone for care through the end of life in an effective and accepting way.

Oh, My Aging Parents! Anxiety and Unhealthy Thinking Patterns
2023-06-15 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.
Did you know that anxiety is the number one mental health diagnosis for adults in the USA? Caring for your aging loved one can lead to anxious feelings and thoughts. When we become anxious, we often incorporate cognitive distortions that are unhealthy thinking patterns. Join Dr. Oliver as she uncovers these negative thinking patterns and discusses strategies to overcome them.

The Pride of Caring: Issues for LGBTQ Caregivers & Professionals Part 2
2023-06-14 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.
Tips on Aging in Place and Finding Inclusive Long-Term Care: An LGBTQ+ Perspective Most seniors want to avoid long term care if possible, yet LGBTQ+ seniors are more likely to require long term care. We’ll outline ways to age in place safely, and how to find inclusive long-term care when needed.

Bienestar De la Persona que Cuida de un Ser Querido: Guía de Supervivencia
2023-06-13 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.
No todo el mundo puede ser un cuidador familiar/amistad. Son una raza noble con los corazones más grandes, los hombros más anchos y la piel más gruesa. Son extremadamente compasivos y empáticos incluso en las situaciones más difíciles. Los cuidadores a menudo sacrifican su propio bienestar para asegurarse de que sus seres queridos estén prosperando. Dr. Néstor H. Praderio
discutirá las consideraciones clave para convertirse en un cuidador y el nivel de compromiso requerido, impactos de la dinámica familiar, y la importancia de cuidados personales. Los participantes también aprenderán a distinguir la diferencia entre estrés y agotamiento y compartirán técnicas para la restauración emocional.

Polypharmacy and Common Drug Interactions in Older Adults
2023-06-12 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.
The use of multiple medications increases as an individual has more health conditions and as one ages. This has been coined polypharmacy. As an individual takes more medications they are at a greater risk for side effects and drug interactions. This talk with delve in to what can lead to inappropriate polypharmacy, common drug interactions, and how you can be empowered as a patient or caregiver to identify these potential problems before they happen.

Caregiving with Chronic Pain
2023-06-08 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.
This session will explore what chronic pain is, as well as the difficulties caregivers with chronic pain face daily. She will discuss possible pain management tools and techniques that are available.

The Pride of Caring: Issues for LGBTQ Caregivers & Professionals part 1
2023-06-07 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.
How is Caregiving Different for LGBTQ+ Caregivers? It’s been a while since we asked this question and learned from the experiences of our diverse caregiver community. Join us for an informative and educational discussion!

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**

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.

‘Who Cares: The Hidden Crisis of Caregiving and How We Solve it’
2023-05-30 11:00 - 12:00
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.
As caregivers, we can feel alone and invisible. But there are millions of people just like us around the world. In this talk, Kenway introduces her forthcoming book, ‘Who Cares: the hidden crisis of caregiving and how we solve it’. We’ll find out what care is like in other countries and how, no matter how alone we might feel, we have allies everywhere calling for change.

An Introduction to the World of Emotional Intelligence
2023-05-25 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.
Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to perceive, interpret, demonstrate, control, evaluate, and use emotions to communicate with and relate to others effectively and constructively. Some experts suggest that emotional intelligence is more important than IQ for success in life.
A multi-year caregiver study conducted by Dr. Dafna Hadar-Pecker found through her research with caregivers of trauma patients that EI enabled caregivers to achieve a higher level of understanding, and consequently offer a better degree of care. Caregivers with higher EI were able to avoid compassion fatigue and were more successful experiencing “compassion satisfaction.”

Disaster Preparedness for Caregivers
2023-05-25 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.
Planning is a key to prepare for and make it through all kinds of disasters which affect seniors, vulnerable populations, and caregivers uniquely. This session will outline key preparedness plans to maintain safety. At the end of this session, Elliot and Lucy will stay on the line and offer personal support.

Degeneración Frontotemporal: Qué es, Qué no es y Cuáles son los Signos y Síntomas
2023-05-24 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.
Es posible que haya escuchado recientemente en las noticias sobre el diagnóstico de FTD (demencia frontotemporal) para el actor Bruce Willis. Esta demencia es muy incomprendida, incluso en la comunidad médica, y las familias tardan hasta 4 años en obtener un diagnóstico adecuado. Ella le explicará qué signos aparecen primero, cómo obtener un diagnóstico preciso y qué hacer después de recibir el diagnóstico.

Coping with the Caregiver Role
2023-05-23 11:00 - 12:00
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.
Finding yourself in the role of a caregiver is a challenging experience. Coping strategies, including planning for the future, can help your life stay balanced. The presentation will include an outline of sorts for success. Other participants will help us all with additional ideas and suggestions!

Aging and Sexual Expression
2023-05-18 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.
Sexuality is alive and well for persons aged 65 and over. How it is expressed may change, but the need for intimacy is still there. Whether your significant other has dementia or other health concerns, there is still hope. Join Dr. Natalee Oliver, DSW as she discusses myths, stigma and barriers to sexual expression as well as coping strategies to provide support for this very basic human need.

Caring for Someone with Mental Health Issues
2023-05-18 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.
Data shows that we have an increase in anxiety, depression, addiction and other mental health issues. We may not even realize that we live with or care for someone with mental health issues. This session will provide a forum for caregivers to discuss their experiences and to learn about handling tough situations. At the end of this session, Elliot and Lucy will stay on the line and offer personal support.

Tips for Aging in Place
2023-05-17 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.
This program explores available resources and ways for seniors to make small home modifications that can support aging in place with consideration to joints, vision, balance and falls prevention. At the end of this session, Elliot and Lucy will stay on the line and offer personal support.

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.
