Improving Communication Skills During COVID-19

It’s been a difficult period for all of us, and the natural instincts we’ve relied on to interact with those around us continue to be tested. In this virtual experience, discover how to improve your communication skills during this time of physical distancing. Learn how to be social in new and improved ways.

Understanding Early Dementia

What are the five things that individuals with early dementia consider most important? This workshop will help you develop a clearer awareness of some of the challenges faced by individuals with early dementia and deepen your understanding of what it means to live with cognitive losses. Our speaker will focus on ways to open your mind to the experiences of the person with dementia and will explore listening techniques that will improve one’s ability to partner with them.

Introduction

This video provides a brief overview of the content of our program, “Sudden Death: Are YOu Prepared?” – a workshop focused on the task of ensuring that survivors are prepared to deal with the aftermath of a loved one’s death. The result was a program structured to guide participants through the process of creating a “Survivor Notebook” to help loved ones cope after the death of a spouse or key family member. Our speaker is AMAC Foundation partner Cindy Richards, representing Raymond James Financial Services.

Final Arrangements & Preparation

Tony Kamus, representing Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory, provides a comprehensive explanation of the issues that need to be considered when someone dies. His remarks focus on the types of services available to the family, the process of making final arrangements, (i.e.. burial and cremation); the importance of pre-planning, and considerations for travelers and out-of-state families.

Three Options in Estate Planning

Hospice Care

Cornerstone Hospice representative Cheryl Rumbley presents an overview of hospice services, defining how they operate, what services they provide, and how one takes advantage of the services available.

Advanced Directive: “Five Wishes”

Cheryl Rumbley, representing Cornerstone Hospice, provides an explanation of “Advanced Directives” and their use in situations where patients are unable to make medical decisions on their own. Her remarks are based on Five Wishes, a complete approach to discussing and documenting your care and comfort choices. It’s about connecting families, communicating with healthcare providers, and showing your community what it means to care for one another.

Federal Benefits for Veterans

In this one-hour workshop, VITAS representative Thomas Spencer, PhD, a highly decorated veteran of multiple foreign combat theaters and former specialist for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs discusses home health care, pension and aid and attendance benefits, and end-of-life issues, including coverage for burial and memorial services and regulations associated with national cemeteries.

ABC’s of Dementia

In this February 2020 seminar, Coping With Dementia’s Debbie Selsavage and Ed Youngblood cover a variety of tips and techniques designed to assist caregivers in their service to dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease sufferers. Their theme for the presentation and for their company focused on “person-centered compassionate care,” with emphasis on techniques for communicating and interacting with those they serve.

When & How to Select Home Care

Trish James, local representatives for “Seniors Helping Seniors,” presents a half-hour discussion on a variety of issues related to the concept of “aging at home” with a focus on the thought processes that go into determining the approach to selecting home care providers.