TS Webinar Series: Care Partner Connection Series 

This program was designed to create a learning space for individuals who are providing care for people living with dementia.

• $20.00 per session – live or recorded 
• $180 for the full series (1 free session) 
• Discounts available if you register five or more participants.  Please reach out to the Event Contact for more information. 
• All registrations include access to the recordings of the session for a period of one year. 
• Recordings are released approximately one week after the live session.

Events

Thursday, January 10^th @ 3:30-5:00 pm ET - Early Signs and Symptoms

Recognizing Early Signs and Symptoms of Dementia so Support Can Be Offered: Establishing Baselines

In this session we will address the value of noticing the earliest signs and symptoms of many forms of dementia. In addition to recognizing the presence of symptoms, we will work to develop skills that help care partners respond to the symptoms rather than react to.

Wednesday, February 13^th @ 4:30-6 pm ET -  Learning the Art of Responding, Not Reacting when issues of Sexuality and Intimacy Arise

Sexuality and Intimacy Issues and Dementia in Group, Public, or Socially Awkward Situations: Learning the Art of Responding, Not Reacting

As a health care team, we should be comfortable addressing individual sexual and intimacy needs and preferences as part of a care plan. Unfortunately, we are much more likely to be uncomfortable and not address issues until challenges or problems arise. This session will open the door to discussions of intimacy and sexuality in dementia and provide us with beginning language and structure to initiate conversations when touching, hugging, and intimate contact happens.

Wednesday, March 27^th @ 4:30-6 pm ET - How to Respond When Someone Ask the Same Questions Over and Over

Guiding and Supporting Connections When Conversations Last Only a Few Minutes or Have an Endless Loop: Talking with Someone in an Emerald State

In this session we will discuss possible reasons for a person repeating a short conversational cycle over and over. We will then offer several strategies for care teams to either respond to the unspoken need or desire or offer a helpful substitution. We will rehearse the difference between taking turns and getting even!

Wednesday, April 24^th @ 4:30-6 pm ET - Optimizing Ways and Means for Successful Transitions While Minimizing Distress

How Can You Determine Where Someone Should/Could Live and How Much Support Will They Need to Be Safe and Live Well?

As dementia progresses, needs, abilities, and interests will change. This session will explore some of the critical signals that the setting and support are no longer working well, and that modifications should be made. Finally, we will explore how to make the change happen in a way that minimizes distress and optimizes successful transitions for all involved.

Wednesday, May 29^th @ 2-3:3:30 pm ET - Providing Support When Mobility Rules Are Not Regarded

“She’s Not Using her Walker!” Providing Support When Typical Rehabilitative Measures are NOT Working

Evidence is mounting that some of our more routine rehabilitation measures that are effective for most elders will not work well for PLwD. In this session, we will first discuss effective strategies for addressing concerns without disrespect, and then consider alternatives that better use the retained abilities of the PLwD while addressing their impairments or challenges. Collaborative goal setting and monitoring for progress will be part of the conversation.

Monday, June 10^th @ 2-3:30 pm ET - Help Beyond Headphones:  Using Music and Rhythm to Promote Purpose

Getting Beyond Headphones: Using Music and Song for Purpose, Joy, Care, and Restoration – The Right Rhythm Can Make a Day Complete

Using music and rhythm for building relationships, aiding in transitions, initiating or completing tasks, and to provide rest and restoration is the focus of this session. Each team member has the potential to use music, or at least rhythm to enhance their skill set and help better. In this session, we will challenge ourselves to get out of our comfort zone to provide others with what is more helpful as dementia changes their abilities.

Friday, July 23rd @ 4-5:30pm ET -  Enhancing Engagement Without Breaking the Bank

How Can We Fill the Day? We Have Almost No Budget for Supplies: What Are Some Low Cost - High Value Options that Could Appeal to Many GEMS States?

In dementia, the most valuable resource we have is a team member’s attention, skill, and time. Making sure we have additional resource options available in the moment when some interaction is possible is critical! This session will focus on providing some simple, replaceable, reusable or recyclable, and meaningful engagement kits for various GEM States. The goal is to train team members in set-up, use, break-down, and storage of the materials, so engagement opportunities happen as needed, not just as scheduled.

Thursday, August 29^th @ 1-2:30 pm ET -  Decoding Distress in Dementia

Learning to Recognize and Respond to Signals that I Am In Distress and Need Your Help and Meet the Unspoken Need

When the spoken message does not match the real need that the person has, it is tricky to resolve. This session will help the team develop their detective skills and problem-solving abilities to better serve PLwD who are no longer accurate in their perception of what is needed compared to what is actually wrong. We will practice multi-modal communication strategies to try to determine what is really needed and how to help.

September 30^th @ 4-5:30 pm ET - How to Recognize the Various Dementias in Oder to Provide Effective Support

Sorting Out the Various Dementias by Changes in Ability and Function, so that Support is Effective

In this session we will explore common behaviors and communication patterns that are symptomatic of various forms of dementia. We will use the visual, verbal, and movement cues that the person is providing to determine possible issues that we can address. Our goal is to help our team recognize the value of noticing symptoms of various dementias so that we can more effectively resolve distress and improve situations rather than become frustrated and simply want the person to stop the behavior or cueing.

October 10^th @ 2-3:30 ET - Improving Communication Skills To Avoid Pitfalls And Refusals

When Things are not Working - Improving Our Communication Skills to Avoid the Pitfalls of Refusals While Respecting the Person’s Rights

When we offer yes-no options, we open the door to refusals. Learning to offer options that serve to put the person’s well-being first and provide alternatives that are respectful and meaningful is both a science and art. This session will build the team’s ability to come up with options that are helpful and avoid the traditional questions that result in “No, thank you” or “I said NO!”, when “Yes” is what is essential for the person’s physical, emotional, or spiritual well-being.

Your registration includes access to the recording of this session.  We will email you and provide a link to the recording of the video approximately one week after the live event. You will have unlimited viewing access to this video for a period of one year.

Register Now!