Corey Rotella began her work in long term care 2008, as a caregiver on the memory care unit. It quite literally changed her life. She is a member of the Alzheimer’s association, a co-author of both the blog and book CNA edge: A voice from the trenches of long term care.
LA Times Cover’s Cruise For Those Living With Dementia & Their Families
Lori La Bey, founder of a Minnesota-based organization called Alzheimer’s Speaks, maintains an online community in which patients and their caregivers “meet” and discuss common challenges.
Now she plans to bring them and others together on a weeklong Eastern Caribbean cruise in November.
The Dementia Friendly Symposium & Cruise will feature chats in which Alzheimer’s patients discuss how they live with the disease and what strategies they use to focus on what they want to do rather than on what they can no longer do. READ FULL ARTICLE
Meet Me in Orange County on June 4th
Can’t Make It? You can Still Have An Impact.
Sponsor me to help raise fund for Women’s Research on Dementia
Today we are lucky to have Brian Van Buren is a 66 year old black gay man living in Charlotte NC., who was diagnosed with vascular dementia and later Early Onset Alzheimer’s in 2015. Come listen and learn from his journey with dementia.
Caribbean vacation for those living with early memory loss accompanied by families and friends
St Paul/Minneapolis, MN – 04/27/2017
Participants will find this week-long Caribbean cruise an empowering retreat rich in hope and filled with fun, all while learning tips to live graciously with their “new normal” in life.
Lori La Bey, Radio Host and founder of Alzheimer’s Speaks is the brain child behind the event. Her own mother lived with dementia for 30 years. La Bey said, “Our conference is designed to encourage open conversations, raise awareness, and build a sense of comradery while rejuvenating souls. We want to help people expand the depths of their relationships while functioning as caregivers and care receivers. Our goal is to show people how to live graciously with dementia, not become it.”
Kathy Shoaf, RN, Accessible Travel Advocate became La Bey’s perfect partner. Shoaf owner of Elite Cruises and Vacations, LLC, is helping La Bey bring people together to share insights, reduce fears and eliminate feelings of isolation often caused by dementia. Shoaf has been overwhelmed by the gratitude expressed by those inquiring about the conference. “People are excited and simply surprised that this opportunity to get support actually exists,” she said.
Most people don’t realize how many families are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, a person develops dementia every 3 seconds in the world. It’s rare to find someone who has not been touched by the dementia.
La Bey’s unique team includes both professionals in the field as well as what she calls the “True Experts.” Four international advocates living with a dementia diagnosis will play a large role in the conference sharing their profound insights and coping strategies. They are: Michael Ellenbogen, Mary Read, Laurie Scherrer and Harry Urban.
As Harry Urban, a man living with dementia for 13 years said, “I’m finally going to meet my family. The one I’ve never met.” Harry refers to his “social media family” as a major source of support to him. Like so many living with dementia and those caring for them, these social media platforms can be lifelines.
Professionals Cyndy Luzinski and Becky Watson bring their passion and superior skill sets to the conference. Luzinski is an advanced practice nurse and dementia practitioner, along with being the founder of Dementia-Friendly Communities of Northern Colorado. Watson is a Board-Certified Music Therapist and Founder of Music for Wellness, a company that provides engaging, energizing and empowering music wellness programs and services to enrich the mind, body, and spirit.
La Bey, reminisces with us about a family cruise with her mom with dementia and her dad with brain cancer. “What a beautiful experience it was for my parents, all siblings and our children.” She goes on to say, “To be able to offer a supportive atmosphere where others understand the dementia experience and are in the trenches side by side with one another — well it’s just beyond words.”
This conference will provide a fun and hopeful environment to share life stories and lessons learned which in turn builds a strong sense of comradery. Participants will be given resources, tips and tools to help them live better with and alongside dementia. Alzheimer’s Speaks is seeking sponsorships and donations to provide scholarships for those who can’t afford to attend.
Johns Hopkins University Press has donated a couple of their best-selling books on dementia for the conference, “The 36 Hour Day” and “A Loving Approach to Dementia Care.” La Bey encourages individuals and organizations to donate services, products or tools to enhance this experience. La Bey is also seeking sponsors through cash or frequent flier miles… at any level to provide scholarships for those who can’t afford to attend on their own.
The group will set sail November 11th, for the Eastern Caribbean and return to Fort Lauderdale, on November 18th, 2017. All interested in this amazing conference and cruise must book their cruise through Kathy Shoaf who can be reached at 219-608-2002 or via email kathy.shoaf@cruiseplanners.com
For More Information Contact:
Alzheimer’s Speaks is an advocacy group making an international impact providing education for those dealing with dementia. Dr. Oz and Sharecare recognized Alzheimer’s Speaks as the “#1 Influencer online for Alzheimer’s.” Maria Shriver recognized La Bey as an “Architect of Change for Humanity.”
Thursday we will have Lola Fraknoi the creator of an Art Kit for people with memory loss and a professor of art in the Older Adult Program at the City College of San Francisco. Lola has over 25 years of experience in the aging field and as the founder and director of Ruth’s Table (a center for multi-generational creative learning) She trained as a professional artist who always finds a way to bring art, music, and creativity of all kinds into the programs she has led.
Thursday, March 30th, we are lucky to have Mindy Bolton back with us! Mindy is a Certified Dementia Communication Specialist. She uses evidence-based creative engagement to help people connect, explore, and create. Mindy refers to her approach as “Shay’s Way”— and declares herself to be the least interesting component of the situations she finds herself in.
Dementia Chats: Where voices of those diagnosed with dementia are heard.
Dementia Chats™ was created with the intention to educate people living with dementia; their care partners – family, friends as well as professionals and advocates. Our Experts are those diagnosed with dementia. We have been doing this series since July of 2012.
Today we had an interesting conversation regarding communication. You will here from those diagnosed and what they think about all the tips given by “Professionals” to communicate with them.
You will gain insights which will help you care better. Learn how their senses change, how their emotions and behaviors are affect by their surroundings and how that impacts them in their daily living.
Thank You To Our Experts Living With Dementia:
Michael Ellenbogen
Paulan Gordon
Truthful Loving Kindness
Brian LeBlanc
Laurie Scherrer
Mary Howard
Susan Suchan
Harry Urban
AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE
FOCUSED ON THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION
Exercise your brain and body with a specially designed and fun fitness experience
Engage in a brain healthy marketplace with friends, food, books, experts and more
Educate yourself with a panel of superstars in brain research, fitness, nutrition and more
Empower yourself to save your brain and help wipe out Alzheimer’s
You’re invited to join Maria Shriver and The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement for a fun, one-of-a-kind event to wipe out Alzheimer’s. Sign up, fundraise and be a part of this exciting three hour experience featuring an exclusive mind-body workout just for Move for Minds participants!
One Day.Eight Cities.Millions Impacted. June 4, 2017 Boston | Dallas | Los Angeles | Miami | New York Orange County | San Francisco | Washington DC
Memory Minders are specially created for caregivers
caring for people experiencing memory loss
The materials in these kits are specifically selected to spark memories, create conversation and provide positive and engaging interactions between people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia and their care partners. The kits are divided into high, middle and low activity levels.
Each Memory Minder kit is uniqueand features an interactive activity for use with those with memory loss (such as a puzzle, bingo, games or conversation cards), a book with colorful illustrations created for individuals with memory loss, a cd with music to soothe and spark memory, and A Caregiver’s Guide to Dementia by Laura Gitlin, which explores the use of activities and other techniques to prevent, reduce and otherwise manage the behavioral symptoms of dementia.
The Memory Minder Kits are available at the Ramsey County Library in Roseville and Shoreview, and be checked out for three weeks. The kits are renewable and requestable via the library’s catalog at www.rclreads.org.
These kits were created out of a unique partnership between:
Ramsey County Library, Roseville Alzheimer’s & Demential Community Action Team, and sponsorships by Cherrywood Pointe, Lyngblomsten, Sunrise Senior Living, New Perspectives Senior Living, and the Friends of Ramsey County Library.
Alzheimer's Speaks believes working together and sharing knowledge is the best way to win the battle against this disease. Please explore the site and share your thoughts.
