WellMed Charitable Foundation

Managing Guilt and the need for Self-Care
2026-01-08 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago)
Caregivers should be aware of feelings of guilt, as they can affect both their well-being and the quality of care they provide. Join Dear Lucy for an honest conversation about the guilt many caregivers experience, practical tips for coping, and why prioritizing self-care is essential.

Una guía como vivir con la enfermedad de Alzheimer
2026-01-13 10:00 - 11:00
El Dr. Néstor Praderio, M.D. realizará una presentación a fondo para los cuidadores de un ser querido con la enfermedad de Alzheimer. Conozca los numerosos roles que asumen los cuidadores a lo largo de las etapas de evolución de la enfermedad. Obtenga un mejor entendimiento sobre la enfermedad de Alzheimer y sus desafíos tanto desde la perspectiva del cuidador como del paciente.
El Dr. Praderio también discutirá consideraciones de planificación financiera y legal, revisará consejos y recomendaciones para un “hogar seguro” sobre cómo manejar las actividades diarias con su ser querido.

When Aging Parents Don’t Want to Receive Help
2026-01-20 11:00 - 12:00
It can be very frustrating for adult child caregivers when the parents they’d like to help refuse their care–especially when the parents’ safety is at risk. In this highly interactive conversation with psychologist Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D., coauthor of The AARP Caregiver Answer Book, we’ll discuss why parents may not recognize that they need help and potential strategies for helping them receive care graciously. Case illustrations will be used throughout.

I Made a Promise
2026-01-28 10:00 - 11:00
This program is designed to support caregivers, particularly those caring for individuals with dementia, as they face emotionally difficult decisions that often contradict promises made earlier in their caregiving journey. These promises may include commitments such as “I’ll never put you in a nursing home” or “I’ll always take care of you myself.” Learn more about understanding the nature of promises, moral distress, guilt, shifting from promise to purpose, grief, and acceptance. The program includes practical techniques such as journaling, support group engagement, and guided discussions to help caregivers release guilt and develop emotional resilience. **Sponsored by the North Central Texas Caregiver Teleconnection program**

Managing Challenging Expressions in Dementia
2026-02-03 12:00 - 13:00
Challenging expressions in dementia are a form of communication—not “bad behavior.” This program helps caregivers understand the why behind these expressions and offers practical, compassionate strategies to respond with confidence and care. Ideal for family and professional caregivers seeking to reduce stress, strengthen connection, and improve quality of life for everyone involved.

A Series of Emotions: How to Cope with Fear as a Caregiver
2026-02-05 10:00 - 11:00
Caregivers often experience a series of common emotions in the process of providing care. When we don’t address these emotions, they can impact upon our physical and mental health. This series will provide a forum to discuss these feeling Caregivers often experience a series of common emotions in the process of providing care. When we don’t address these emotions, they can impact upon our physical and mental health. This series will provide a forum to discuss these feelings and experiences, along with practical tips and answers to your questions. s and experiences, along with practical tips and answers to your questions.
Coping with the declining health of someone around us can trigger fear – fear about what is to come and even fear about our own health. This session will address coping with ongoing fear and anxiety.

La familia como equipo
2026-02-10 13:00 - 14:00
En “La familia como equipo” exploraremos cómo toda la familia puede participar en el cuidado de una persona viviendo con demencia, tanto quienes están cerca como quienes viven a distancia. Hablaremos de cómo reconocer las fortalezas de cada miembro, cómo comunicarse con respeto y claridad, y cómo compartir responsabilidades de manera más justa. También veremos ideas prácticas para incluir a familiares que no pueden estar físicamente presentes, usando la tecnología y acuerdos claros. El objetivo es que nadie se sienta solo con la carga del cuidado, y que la familia pueda caminar unida en esta etapa tan importante.

A Series of Emotions: How to Deal with Anger as a Caregiver
2026-02-12 10:00 - 11:00
Caregivers often experience a series of common emotions in the process of providing care. When we don’t address these emotions, they can impact upon our physical and mental health. This series will provide a forum to discuss these feeling Caregivers often experience a series of common emotions in the process of providing care. When we don’t address these emotions, they can impact upon our physical and mental health. This series will provide a forum to discuss these feelings and experiences, along with practical tips and answers to your questions. s and experiences, along with practical tips and answers to your questions.
Many of us feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and angry at times along the caregiving journey. Interpersonal conflict can also surface when it comes to sharing responsibilities and making difficult decisions. This session will address healthy ways to deal with anger and conflict.

A Series of Emotions: How to Handle Uncertainty as a Caregiver
2026-02-19 10:00 - 11:00
Caregivers often experience a series of common emotions in the process of providing care. When we don’t address these emotions, they can impact upon our physical and mental health. This series will provide a forum to discuss these feeling Caregivers often experience a series of common emotions in the process of providing care. When we don’t address these emotions, they can impact upon our physical and mental health. This series will provide a forum to discuss these feelings and experiences, along with practical tips and answers to your questions. s and experiences, along with practical tips and answers to your questions.
One thing for certain is that being a caregiver comes with a lot of uncertainty! It’s hard to know what’s around the corner and how to plan for the unknown. This interactive session will address how to cope with the uncertainty we all feel at times, and we’ll talk about making informed decisions.

Navigating Inpatient and Rehab Care: Personal Journeys, Professional Wisdom
2026-02-25 10:00 - 11:00
Join Zanda Hilger, LPC (Licensed Counselor), and Marty Skinner for a candid and personal conversation about the realities of caregiving. Both are longtime professionals in older adult care and the disability community. In recent years, they have also been navigating the healthcare system as wives caring for their husbands. In this session, they share hard-earned lessons from emergency room visits, hospitalizations, transitions to rehabilitation, and the often-overlooked challenges of returning home. Blending professional expertise with lived experience, this session offers practical guidance, honest insight, and emotional support for anyone caring for a loved one with chronic medical needs. **Sponsored by the North Central Texas Caregiver Teleconnection*

A Series of Emotions: How to Process Sadness as a Caregiver
2026-02-26 10:00 - 11:00
Caregivers often experience a series of common emotions in the process of providing care. When we don’t address these emotions, they can impact upon our physical and mental health. This series will provide a forum to discuss these feeling Caregivers often experience a series of common emotions in the process of providing care. When we don’t address these emotions, they can impact upon our physical and mental health. This series will provide a forum to discuss these feelings and experiences, along with practical tips and answers to your questions. s and experiences, along with practical tips and answers to your questions.
Sadness is something difficult for most of us to process and cope with, and a hard thing to talk about – which is why we have a dedicated session in this series to discuss the importance of sadness. We’ll also explore anticipatory grief – a common experience of caregivers.

Ask Dr. Tam Questions
2026-03-09 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-05-01 10:00 - 11:00
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**

Intervenciones conductuales como tratamiento de primera línea para la demencia
2026-03-10 10:00 - 11:00
El deterioro cognitivo en pacientes con demencia es progresivo y crea una angustia psicológica significativa. Esto, combinado con los trastornos conductuales de la demencia, da como resultado desafíos aún mayores para los cuidadores. El grado de los síntomas asociados y el nivel de perturbación de la vida familiar, así como la seguridad del paciente, a menudo conducen a decisiones con respecto a la atención a largo plazo. Algunos de los trastornos conductuales más comunes asociados con la demencia son la agitación, la agresión verbal (obscenidades, acusaciones, etc.), la agresión física (caminar, morder, golpear), la deambulación, el acaparamiento, los trastornos del sueño, la inhibición sexual y las alucinaciones. El Dr. Néstor H. Praderío dirigirá una discusión sincera sobre el potencial de aumento de los peligros asociados con los problemas de comportamiento, así como los estragos que pueden crear para el agotamiento del cuidador y el bienestar general del paciente. Incluirá una revisión de los enfoques no farmacológicos para abordar los trastornos conductuales generales.

Dear Lucy: Dementia and Sexually Inappropriate Behaviors
2026-03-12 10:00 - 11:00
Join Dear Lucy as she explains how and why inappropriate sexual behaviors may appear in dementia, what situations can spark them, and how caregivers can navigate these moments with confidence and compassion.

Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias: How to Prevent Them
2026-03-19 11:00 - 12:00
Dr. Bendheim will introduce the hallmarks of dementia, specifically Alzheimer’s disease (AD); including the common symptoms, clinical and pathological features, diagnostic criteria, and risk factors. He will share the FDA approved treatments for AD as well as the landmark results of the Alzheimer’s Association POINTER multi-component lifestyle study, published in 2025. Dr. Bendheim will also discuss BrainSavers, the company he founded, and introduce the Brain+Body Total Fitness Program—an evidence based program offered both through live, instructor led classes and online.

Medicare Preventive Services
2026-03-25 10:00 - 11:00
This presentation provides an overview of Medicare Preventive Services, including covered wellness visits, screenings, vaccines, eligibility requirements, frequency, potential costs, and explains how these benefits support early detection and overall health. The presentation also offers practical guidance on how to access these services and make the most of Medicare coverage to support long-term health and well-being.**Sponsored by the North Central Texas Caregiver Teleconnection**

When the Caregiver Needs Care: Self-Care, Suicide Prevention & Family Healing
2026-04-02 11:00 - 12:00
Caregivers often carry the emotional, physical, and mental load for their families while neglecting their own well-being. This session will address caregiver burnout, the impact of chronic stress on the entire family, suicide awareness and prevention, and practical strategies for protecting mental health. Participants will leave with encouragement, actionable self-care tools, and trusted resources to support both themselves and their loved ones.

Supporting Independence & Dignity: Managing Self-Care in Dementia
2026-04-07 12:00 - 13:00
Dementia is a progressive brain disease that can change a person’s ability to manage everyday self-care tasks such as dressing, eating, bathing, and toileting. These changes are not a choice or a lack of effort. They are the result of changes in the brain.
Join us to better understand the “why” behind these shifts and learn practical, compassionate strategies that help a person living with dementia maintain their highest level of independence and dignity.

Truth, Lies, and Compassion: Ethical Communication in Dementia Care
2026-04-09 10:00 - 11:00
This presentation explores the ethical and practical challenges of truth-telling in dementia caregiving. It examines when honesty supports well-being—and when compassionate redirection or “therapeutic fibbing” may be more appropriate. Through real-world scenarios, we’ll consider how caregivers can navigate these complex moments with empathy and respect.

Comunicarse de manera efectiva
2026-04-14 11:00 - 12:00
A través de este taller, aprenderemos cómo la demencia afecta la comunicación. Describir cómo un enfoque centrado en la persona puede ayudar a la comunicación. Compartiremos estrategias que le ayuden a comunicarse con una persona que vive con demencia.

Managing Family Conflict About End-of-Life Decisions
2026-04-21 12:00 - 13:00
Only one-third of Americans have filled out an advance directive to let family members know what care they do or don’t want in the event they are unable to speak for themselves. That leaves many adult children to guess about what an aging parent with severe dementia would want–opening the door for intense debate and even fighting among those siblings. In this highly interactive workshop with psychologist Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D., co-author of The AARP Caregiver Answer Book, we will talk about the importance of advance directives but also how adult children can draw upon their parent’s beliefs and values to make the right decision for them. Case illustrations will be used throughout.

La presentación explica el síndrome vespertino
2026-04-22 10:00 - 11:00
La presentación explica el síndrome vespertino, una confusión y agitación que ocurre al final del día en personas con demencia. Se analizan causas como el estrés, necesidades no satisfechas y el entorno, y se ofrecen estrategias para mejorar el cuidado. También incluye recursos locales para apoyar a cuidadores. **Sponsored by the North Central Texas Caregiver Teleconnection**

Caregiving Without a Roadmap: Insights for Cancer Caregivers
2026-04-28 13:00 - 14:00
Behind every cancer diagnosis is a caregiver — a parent, partner, sibling, or friend — quietly navigating medical appointments, emotional strain, and financial pressures. This webinar explores the lived experiences captured in Caregiving Without a Roadmap: Insights from Cancer Caregivers, a national listening-session report developed by the National Alliance for Caregiving in partnership with CancerCare. Through real caregiver stories, we’ll examine the gaps in support, the emotional toll of caregiving, and the practical realities that often go unseen.

Caring Through ALS: Supporting Your Loved One While Sustaining Yourself
2026-05-07 13:00 - 14:00
Caring for someone with ALS is both deeply meaningful and incredibly demanding. This session offers caregivers practical guidance, emotional support, and essential tools to help navigate the ALS journey with greater confidence and resilience. Participants will learn what to expect, how to access support, and ways to care for their own wellbeing while caring for someone they love.

Depresión en la etapa tardía de la vida
2026-05-12 09:00 - 10:00
¿Puede la depresión en etapas posteriores de la vida estar relacionada con el deterioro cognitivo o incluso con la demencia? El Dr. Nestor H. Praderio, MD, analizará los riesgos, el diagnóstico y las opciones de tratamiento. Conozca los factores desencadenantes de esta enfermedad común que afecta a un número cada vez mayor de adultos de 65 años en adelante.

Making the Transition: When a Loved One With Dementia Needs More Care
2026-05-14 10:00 - 11:00
Join Dear Lucy as she discusses how to identify when moving a loved one into a care facility may be the right next step. The session will cover common warning signs, including safety issues, declining health, and increasing caregiving demands as dementia progresses. She will also examine who should be part of the decision-making process and share practical guidance for families preparing for this change.

Making the Case for Music in Dementia Care
2026-05-19 12:00 - 13:00
Explore the evidence-based benefits of music engagement for older adults living with dementia and related cognitive impairments. Participants will learn how to use favorite music purposefully to achieve targeted outcomes such as reducing agitation, improving mood, and strengthening connection. The session will highlight research findings, cost-effectiveness data, and practical tools that caregivers and professionals can apply immediately within care routines. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of why personalized music should be considered a standard of care in dementia support.

Magnificent Seven Essential Legal Forms
2026-05-27 10:00 - 11:00
Virginia Hammerle will explain about the intricacies involving documents such as a Will, Durable Power of Attorney, Medical Power of Attorney, HIPPA Release, Designation of Guardian, and Burial Instructions and will provide information on the use of trusts in estate planning.
