Join Michael Ellenbogen and your host Lakelyn Hogan of Home Instead Senior Care as we talk about the dementia diagnosis journey. Michael lived with a diagnosis of younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease for 10 years before he received new test results indicating his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s was in question. He’ll share about his experience and lessons learned along the way that may help other individuals on a quest for an accurate diagnosis.
Hear more about Michael’s own diagnosis journey
Understand the benefits of early diagnosis and the risks of mis-diagnosis
Learn how you can help advocate for better diagnosis processes and dementia research
We will take live questions during the chat, or feel free to send them in ahead of time to [email protected].
About the expert
Michael Ellenbogen
Michael Ellenbogen is a world-renowned advocate for individuals with dementia and speaks openly about his own 20+ year dementia diagnosis journey. Prior to his diagnosis, Michael was a network operations manager for a Fortune 500 financial institution. At the age of 39, he was told that his cognitive issues were due to stress. At the age of 49, he was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer's disease.Michael became involved in numerous local, national and international organizations, lending his voice and experience to help advance Alzheimer’s research and advocate for support. He was featured in the Alzheimer's Disease International's 2012 World Alzheimer's Report and has represented people living with dementia at the World Health Organization. He also wrote a book about his journey titled “From the Corner Office to Alzheimer’s.”At the age of 59, Michael received a new diagnostic test that delivered shocking results: he did not, in fact, have Alzheimer’s disease. Instead, neurologists have placed his form of dementia into a fairly new category called suspected non-Alzheimer’s pathophysiology (SNAP). He continues to share his story and has become a champion for improving diagnosis processes.
Chat Archive
Caring for Someone with Lewy Body Dementia
Live chat with expert: Angela Taylor
Angela Taylor of the Lewy Body Dementia Association and host Lakelyn Hogan of Home Instead Senior Care talk about caring for individuals affected by Lewy body dementias (LBD). LBD are the second most common form of degenerative dementias after Alzheimer’s disease, but much more awareness, education and research is needed. Topics this chat covered include:
The cognitive and behavioral symptoms of LBD
Why early and accurate diagnosis is essential
Care techniques and treatments to improve quality of life
Listen as Dr. Julie Masters and host Lakelyn Hogan as they talk about how to prepare for the final years of life. Final years planning is about so much more than putting the appropriate legal documents in place. It’s also about how to live those final years more fully and having the right conversations at the right times to prepare for the road ahead. Some topics this chat covered include:
Tips for Socializing with Someone Living with Dementia
Live chat with expert: Jennifer FitzPatrick
Join expert Jennifer FitzPatrick and your host Lakelyn Hogan as we talk about how to make the most out of visits and interactions with someone experiencing communication challenges due to cognitive decline. Some topics this chat may cover include:
How to respond to repetition
Connecting through activity rather than conversation
Join social worker Susy Favaro from the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and your host Lakelyn Hogan from Home Instead Senior Care as we talk about strategies to cope with ambiguous loss. Ambiguous loss describes what many dementia care partners experience when the person they know and love has significantly changed psychologically but is still physically present.
Some topics this chat may cover include:
How ambiguous loss differs from other types of loss
Characteristics of ambiguous loss
Strategies to cope with ambiguous loss
We will take live questions during the chat, or feel free to send them in ahead of time to [email protected]
About the Expert Susy Favaro, LCSW, MSW,is a social worker in the memory disorder clinic at Banner Alzheimer’s Instituteproviding counseling, referral, educational, and support services to meet client and care giver needs.Most recently she has developed programming on ambiguous loss.
Susy has worked in the field of gerontology for 40 years.The focus of her work has been in the implementation and training of evidence based programs in self management of chronic conditions for older adults and unpaid family caregivers. Programs include: Enhance Wellness (formerly known as the Health Enhancement Program), Powerful Tools for Caregivers, Chronic Disease Self Management Program, PEARLS (depression intervention) and Active Choices.
In 1997 she joined the training faculty of Status One Health Systems (Boston,MA) as a trainer in motivational Interviewing and behavior change theory. In 2005 she became a PEARLS trainer.
Join expert Sharon Denny from the Association of Frontotemporal Degeneration and your host Lakelyn Hogan from Home Instead Senior Care as we talk about the unique symptoms and challenges of frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). We’ll discuss the differences and similarities between FTD and other forms of dementia, as well as best practices for caring for someone with FTD.
Join expert Anne Tumlinson and your host Lakelyn Hogan as we talk about how to prepare for the long haul in caring for a loved one with dementia. Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia can affect someone for many years, and you may encounter a number of logistical, social, and emotional challenges along the way. No matter how far along you are on this caregiving journey, we hope you’ll join us.
How to find the right kinds of support in your community
Ways to cope with the role reversal from daughter/son/husband/wife to caregiver
Practical Ways for Dementia Care Partners to Find Respite
Live chat with expert: Karen Garner
Join expert Karen Garner and host Lakelyn Hogan as we talk about practical ways for dementia care partners to find respite. We know you know that it’s important to get enough sleep and take care of yourself, but the million dollar question is HOW, especially when you have so many other responsibilities to juggle.
Join expert David Troxel & host Lakelyn Hogan as we talk about relationship-centered dementia care. David will share the premise behind his “Best FriendsTM Approach” to care and teach you how to apply it as a care partner to your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.
Molly will share best practices to help minimize symptoms associated with dementia, such as repetition, agitation, delusions or social withdrawal. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from other caregivers’ situations or send in a question and receive tips for your unique situation.
Join expert Karen Garner and host Lakelyn Hogan as we talk about what happens when your caregiving journey ends. Karen is walking through that experience right now after the passing of her husband, Jim, and is glad to pass along some of her lessons learned for the benefit of others going through the same thing. Some topics this chat may cover include:
Processing grief and guilt
Discovering your post-caregiver identity
Ways to share your story, become an advocate, and reach out to help others
