Having a family member who is struggling with Alzheimer’s disease, I have become more and more aware how difficult it can be for the caregiver – especially a spouse who gets no reprieve.  To learn more about how I could help, I visited the website of the Greater Maryland Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.  There I found a number of resources for family and friends.

Among the learning opportunties that are available, I found several free telephone seminars.  These interactive sessions are held once/month from 12:30-1:30pm, making it relatively easy to attend.  Upcoming sessions include:

Thursday, January 19 - Stuck in the Middle: Surviving and Celebrating the Sandwich Generation. Guest speaker Kathy Schey will offer practical insights and wisdom concerning the dementia caregiver experience.

Thursday, February 16 – Topic: Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
Times. Gain a basic understanding of the warning signs, causes, stages and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Thursday, March 15 - Communication Techniques for Dementia Caregivers. Learn the common pitfalls involved in communicating with people with dementia and how to overcome them.

Thursday, April 19 – Caregiving 101  Participants will learn practical tips for dementia caregiving and community resources to utilize for additional support.

Registration is required for each of the programs.  Interested parties can register online or call 1-800-272-3900.