Are you seeing changes in you or your loved one’s cognition? Have you contemplated bringing it up to a healthcare provider or discussing your concerns with your loved one? While the thought of getting a dementia diagnosis may be overwhelming, there can be many benefits. Join Dr. Lakelyn Hogan Eichenberger as she talks with dementia care expert and Alzheimer’s Speaks founder Lori La Bey about the diagnosis journey and what families can expect.
During this chat you will learn:
A brief overview of dementia and the signs and symptoms
Tips for bringing up concerns about a loved one’s cognition
Reasons to talk to a healthcare provider and get a diagnosis
Resources to support individuals and families navigate dementia
We will take live questions during the chat, or feel free to send them in ahead of time to [email protected].
Lori La Bey
Lori La Bey is a change agent from Minnesota known around the world when it comes to dementia care. Just ask Oprah or Maria Shriver who have recognized Lori for cutting-edge approach to shift dementia care from crisis to comfort around the world. Her own mother lived with dementia for thirty years.
In 2009, Lori launched Alzheimer’s Speaks, an advocacy and multi-media company giving voice to all, including those living with dementia. Her multiple platforms educate, raise awareness, shift perceptions, and share resources with families and professionals regarding all forms of dementia and caregiving.
Lori is also a sought after speaker and trainer. Her most recent projects are Dementia and the Arts where people living with dementia show off a variety of artwork and Dementia Map global resource directory of which she is a cofounder.
Balancing Work and Caregiving
Live chat with expert: Liz O’Donnell
Of the 53 million family caregivers in the U.S., 61% work. Balancing both work and caregiving duties is challenging. Many of these caregivers are considered the sandwich generation that is caring for aging parents and children at the same time. Home Insteadgerontologist and caregiving advocate Dr. Lakelyn Eichenberger will be joined by author and founder of Working Daughter Liz O’Donnell to discuss tips to help working family caregivers find support and balance.
During this chat you will learn:
Challenges working family caregivers face
How to cope with the various demands on a caregiver’s time
Did you know that more than 60% of American adults have not created a legally-binded estate plan? Or that a proper plan entails 5 critical components? Join Jerold E. Rothkoff, an elder law attorney and care advocate, to learn more about the ins and outs of an estate plan and why it’s so important to help your loved one line up their asset designations sooner than later.
Dr. Lakelyn Hogan Eichenberger, Home Instead Gerontologist and Caregiver Advocate will talk with attorney Jerold Rothkoff about:
The 5 components that make up an estate plan
Why estate planning is critical and when to get started
Where to turn when drafting documents like wills, trusts and power of attorney
Understanding the legal aspects of various care types
How Family & Professional Caregivers Work Together
Live chat with expert: Jenny Munro and Bill Glover
Caring for an aging loved one can take a village of family, professionals, friends and neighbors, each with individual strengths that positively impact the care provided. Adding a professional caregiver to your loved one’s care plan benefits all involved – especially the family caregiver. Join Jenny Munro, a family caregiver who cared for her mother with Alzheimer’s disease, and Bill Glover, a professional caregiver at Home Instead, to hear both caregiver perspectives and the perks of working well together.
Join Dr. Lakelyn Hogan Eichenberger, Home Instead Gerontologist and Caregiver Advocate, as she talks with Jenny and Bill, to learn more about:
The thought process for families deciding whether or not to use home care
How a professional caregiver approaches starting care with a new family
How the two caregiver roles complement and support one another
Brain health disorders, like dementia, disproportionately affect women. In fact, approximately 70% of those living with Alzheimer’s are women. Caregiving duties also fall on the shoulders of more women (61%) than men (39%). Join to learn simple tips to help caregivers stop putting their own brain health (and health) on the back burner. Lynn Posluns, founder and president of Women’s Brain Health Initiative, will talk with Dr. Lakelyn Hogan Eichenberger, Home Instead Gerontologist and Caregiver Advocate, about how caregivers can begin to prioritize their own brain health.
Join to learn more about:
Why women are disproportionately impacted by brain disorders
The importance of brain health for caregivers
Simple tips to incorporate healthy living into daily life
The start of the new year means a fresh start for many. For caregivers, it can be helpful to reflect on your caregiving journey and reassess your role. You may realize that you need extra support. You could also use this time of reflection to determine if you need to make adjustments, find resources, or reprioritize certain activities. Jennifer FitzPatrick, author and speaker, will talk with Dr. Lakelyn Hogan, Home Instead Gerontologist and Caregiver Advocate, about ways you can renew your commitment to care for your loved one.
Join to learn more about:
Reframing theway you look at caregiving
Evaluating how caregiving is going and how you can be empowered to care
Determining if adjustments need to be made in your caregiving journey
It can be easy for family caregiving duties to become all that a caregiver has time for, making caregiving feel all-consuming. Little by little, caregivers may feel their own identity slipping away. This month Jacquelyn Revere, who cares for her mother living with Alzheimer’s disease, will talk with Dr. Lakelyn Hogan, Home Instead’s Gerontologist and Caregiver Advocate, about these struggles. The two will candidly discuss how the caregiving journey can shape a family caregiver’s “new normal” and why it’s so important to not lose your own identity and passions along the way.
There is a growing number of cases of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). With the progression of PD, care and support is typically needed at home. It’s critical for care partners to understand symptoms and how care needs will evolve to best support their loved one. Join Dr. Lakelyn Hogan, Home Instead’s Gerontologist and Caregiver Advocate, as she talks with Gail Gitin, an Ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation, to learn more about:
Parkinson’s disease and related symptoms
Common challenges of living with PD
How to live well and remain independent with PD
Caregiving tips, resources, and support services
The Davis Phinney Foundation was founded by Olympic cyclist Davis Phinney in 2004 to help people with Parkinson’s live well today. The organization’s focus is to provide programs, early-stage research, and resources that offer inspiration, information and tools that enable people living with Parkinson’s to take action that can immediately improve their quality of life.
Live chat with expert: Ian Kremer and Bonnie Wattles
The subject of home care or respite care can elicit a lot of questions: How does it work? What does it cost? What are the benefits? Layer on an Alzheimer’s disease or dementia diagnosis and the questions can feel more challenging. Are caregivers properly trained to care for someone living with dementia? Can a caregiver provide the level of care that I can? Does a chronic condition make care more costly?
These are heavy questions and many family caregivers may feel overwhelmed trying to get all the answers. Join Dr. Lakelyn Hogan, Home Instead gerontologist and aging advocate for a panel discussion to help caregivers better understand the ins and outs of dementia home care.
Dr. Hogan will be joined by two dedicated Alzheimer’s advocates: Ian Kremer, Executive Director of LEAD Coalition and Bonnie Wattles, Executive Director of HFC. Join to learn more about:
The benefits that home care and respite can provide the individual and family
Important considerations in hiring a home care company
Grants and other resources that can help cover the costs of care and support the caregiver
Have you misplaced your keys? Forgot a neighbor’s name? Lost as to why you walked into the kitchen? It can be hard to know if what you’re experiencing is normal or cause for concern. If you’re worried about brain health – for yourself or your loved one – you’re not alone. Brain health is just as important as the health of the rest of our body, especially because the brain is the command center that keeps our bodies functioning. Join Dr. Lakelyn Hogan as she talks with Brooks Kenny, General Manager of BrainGuideTM and Executive Director of WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s, for a discussion on the importance of brain health. Topics covered:
How you can keep your brain healthy
What you should do if you notice changes in your memory
How you can help an older loved one with changes in their memory
How BrainGuideTM can be a resource for family caregivers
Caregivers are often so focused on the daily tasks of caregiving that they rarely have time to reflect on their role as a caregiver and how it changes over time. For many, caregiving is a multi-year journey and one that can start to feel overwhelming. Regular reflection can help caregivers change their mindset and transform their caregiving experience. Join Dr. Lakelyn Hogan as she talks with author and caregiving consultant Dr. Aaron Blight to learn:
How to check assumptions about caregiving.
Ways to identify opportunities to improve the situation.
Methods of reflection that can help individuals learn about themselves and improve their caregiving experience.
