Family Caregiver Conference to be held

To commemorate November being designated National Caregivers’ Month and Alzheimer’s disease Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association, Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter, and The Dementia Care Network of Sheboygan County are presenting a Sheboygan County Family Caregiver Conference.

The event, titled “Be Healthy; Be Happy,” will take place from 10 a.m. until 3:15 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 730 County PPP, Sheboygan Falls.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2009 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, there are more than 5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease and as many as 10 million family caregivers.

For every person with Alzheimer’s disease, there is often at least one other person who directly cares for him or her, with a host of healthcare and social workers, advocates and support workers in the background.

Thus, holding a conference for family caregivers is a way to thank them in recognition of the special contributions they make to their loved ones.

“Our focus for the Nov. 12 conference is on caregivers taking care of themselves, so that they can provide quality care for their loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or other related memory loss,” said Ginny Nyhuis, regional services coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association Sheboygan and Ozaukee county areas.

“The entire conference is focused on staying healthy and being healthy,” she added. “The importance of exercise and proper nutrition and laughter will be featured.

“Another aspect of the conference will deal with how to talk to children and grandchildren about Alzheimer’s disease.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to visit exhibitors and learn about various services available in Sheboygan County to support them as caregivers.

The schedule of events is as follows:

. 10 a.m. – Registration; visit vendors.

. 10:15 a.m. – Welcome and research update: Tom Hlavacek, executive director for the Alzheimer’s Association of Southeastern Wisconsin will present the address.

. 10:45 a.m. – Fitness First: The presenter will be Marion Helf, fitness coordinator for the Sheboygan Senior Activity Center.

Participants will learn a variety of easy and effective at-home exercises to help caregivers keep up with the physical and psychological strains of care-giving.

. 11:15 a.m. – Nourishing the Caregiver: Robin Leonhardt, dietitian and certified diabetes educator for St. Nicholas Hospital, will be the speaker. Caregivers will learn the importance of good nutrition and how to use practical and simple nutrition guidelines.

. 11:45 a.m. – Lunch; visit vendors. . 12:45 p.m. – Workshops (choice of two):

The first is titled “Discover Your Communication Style & How to Use It Effectively.”

Tracy Cinealis, CSA, senior living specialist for Libby’s House, Plymouth, and Martha Gedemer, community representative for Comfort Keepers, Sheboygan, will present the workshop.

Participants will discover their preferred communication styles and learn methods for potentially reducing conflict, while care-giving, by recognizing style preferences of others.

The other workshop is titled “What about Me?” Susan Berry, MS, dementia consultant, on-call therapist for Rogers Hospital of Oconomowoc, will facilitate the workshop.

While learning of a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can be devastating for those involved, it brings on special challenges for children and teens. As adults are stretched in caring for their loved ones with dementia, children are often dealing with their own emotions and challenges.

Thus, this workshop will focus on helping to identify the emotions and reactions a child may face in dealing with a person who has Alzheimer’s disease and will give strategies to help children understand and cope with the person who has the disease.

. 1:45 p.m. – Break; visit vendors.

. 2 p.m. – “Humor, Stress and Health: Laugh for the Health of It!!” Lynda Markut, workplace education coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, will present the address.

Her address will include a review, regarding how stress accentuates the impact of humor on the body. This will lay the groundwork for accepting a lifestyle that contains more humor.

She will include humorous stories and exercises to illustrate how to reframe situations in order to add more humor into one’s life.

. 3 p.m. – Caregiver tribute. . 3:10 p.m. – Wrap-up and closing.

Seating for the conference is limited. Contact Ginny Nyhuis at the Alzheimer’s Association at 838-1311 for a registration form. There is a minimal charge to attend.

Those in need of in-home respite care, so that they can attend the conference, are asked to phone Krista Scheel at 1-414-479-8800 for assistance.

“The Family Caregivers’ Conference is an opportunity for caregivers to come together, support each other and learn from each other,” Cinealis, said.

“This year’s conference presenters will focus on fun ways for family caregivers to stay healthy and strong during their journey as a caregiver.”

Cinealis related the mission and goals of the Dementia Care Network of Sheboygan County and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Members of the Dementia Care Network (DCN) of Sheboygan County are aware of the importance of caregivers remaining healthy mentally, emotionally and physically, while caring for those with memory loss.

The DCN of Sheboygan County is a collaborative effort of professionals, dedicated to assisting those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia through education, support and resources. The DCN partners with the Alzheimer’s Association of Southeastern Wisconsin. This relationship is beneficial in providing important access to community resources and funds to carry out the mission.

The DCN currently has more than 50 professional members who work together to provide education, resources and support for those with dementia, their caregivers and families. Most members own or work for companies that provide resources or care for seniors – including home care, retirement-planning groups, community health organizations, assisted living and nursing homes.

The DCN also provides educational and networking opportunities for its members.

“All these members are concerned about bringing resources and education to the community, so that nobody feels he or she has to go through Alzheimer’s disease alone,” Cinealis said.

“The Alzheimer’s Association provides support groups that are facilitated by Dementia Care Network members,” she noted.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s disease care, support and research. The organization’s mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support of all affected and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.