Providing education, support, and resources
to guide you on your dementia care journey
Serving Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in Northern California
Presentations
Our dementia specialists are experienced in delivering presentations both
in-person and on Zoom (webinars) on a wide variety of dementia-related topics.
Over the past several years we have held classes for staff and families at
numerous healthcare facilities and organizations within Alameda and Contra
Costa Counties.
While most presentations and webinars are 45-60 minutes in length, they can be tailored to meet the needs of your timeframe. Presentations utilize PowerPoint slide shows with live narration and include a resource/reference list that supplements and supports the content.
Scroll down to to find the presentation(s) that will best meet your needs. Or, if there is a topic that is not on the list, talk with one of our specialists -- we may be able to design a presentation just for you. Contact us for specifics about pricing.
Topics for Classes, Webinars, and In-Services
Dementia Essentials
Since dementia dramatically changes the ways that individuals think, perceive, communicate and behave, caring for a loved one with dementia presents a unique set of challenges. Our dementia specialists will discuss the nature and progression of dementia and the various diseases and conditions that can produce its symptoms. Participants will gain a basic understanding of the ways in which dementia can impact the brain and behavior.
Can Dementia Be Prevented? Risk Reduction Strategies
While there is no guaranteed way to prevent any of the underlying causes of dementia, there are steps one can take, at any age, to potentially reduce the risk or delay its onset. In this presentation, attendees will gain an understanding of the role genetics play in developing dementia and learn about the lifestyle choices that may have a positive impact on brain health. The latest information about approved medications for managing symptoms and possibly slowing cognitive decline will also be discussed.
Teepa Snow’s GEMS™ State Model of Dementia
Leading dementia-care expert Teepa Snow has developed a framework to help care partners identify and understand the different stages of dementia based on a person’s cognitive abilities and functions. In this webinar, Sage's dementia specialists will provide an overview of this helpful model that uses gemstones to represent each stage of dementia, highlighting the strengths and limitations of the person living with dementia associated with each stage.
Understanding Behavior As Communication
As dementia progresses, one’s ability to clearly communicate needs and wishes declines, often resulting in changes in behavior and personality. In most cases, these dementia-related behaviors reflect unmet needs that the person is unable to express. In this webinar, Sage's dementia specialists will examine common dementia-related behaviors such as anger, agitation, anxiety, unfounded suspicions, repetitive actions and more. Strategies and suggestions will be provided that can help the care partner to better manage the challenging behaviors by anticipating needs, identifying triggers, and responding appropriately and compassionately.
Making Decisions About Care Settings
Handling sensitive topics and making difficult decisions about providing for care for a loved one, especially when emotions are high, is never easy. This webinar will cover information about assessing needs, accessing community services and resources, relocating loved ones, and exploring various care settings including in-home and residential care.
Caregiving: A Family Matter
Working together with family members to provide care for a loved one with dementia can be challenging, and the emotional stress and responsibility involved can take a toll on family relationships. In this webinar, the importance of open communication, empathy, and seeking external support will be discussed and strategies to decrease tension and strengthen relationships will be shared—all with a focus on prioritizing the needs and wishes of the care recipient.
Self-Care for the Caregiver
The stress that family caregivers experience as their loved one declines can be staggering. The constant fluctuation of changing roles, uncertainty about the future, and fatigue may ultimately result in compromised health and family dysfunction. This webinar will focus on understanding the causes of stress, strategies for coping, and the importance of seeking support and utilizing resources.
Becoming an Advocate for Your Loved One (and Yourself)
Understanding your rights as a family caregiver and communicating effectively with healthcare professionals are essential in advocating for loved ones and yourself in a complex healthcare system. Webinar topics will include tips for handling hospitalizations, understanding the discharge process, and planning for follow-up care. Medicare rights and responsibilities will be emphasized.
Handling Grief and Loss
No matter how thoroughly one has prepared for the inevitability of death, when the time comes it still can be a shock to the system. In this webinar, a local marriage and family therapist will discuss the complexities of grief and loss, including anticipatory grief and ambiguous loss. Participants will be provided with coping strategies to help them both during the final stages of life and after their loved one has passed.
Managing Daily Care
Providing daily care for a person living with dementia can present overwhelming demands on the family caregiver, often leading to frustration and exhaustion. With the goal of enhancing the overall well-being of all involved, Sage's dementia specialists will offer strategies for planning daily activities such as dressing, dining, personal hygiene and exercising, as well as social and leisure activities.
Typical Aging vs Mild Cognitive Impairment
Have you ever worried whether some of the memory challenges you or a loved one are experiencing are “normal?” Could they be a sign of something else? As we age, our brains and our bodies undergo myriad changes. We may experience instances where we process information more slowly, or we may have trouble recalling names or dates. These can be examples of typical age-related changes. But what are the indicators that these changes may be due to something more serious such as mild cognitive impairment or even dementia? When might it be time to visit the doctor for an evaluation? In this presentation, Sage's dementia specialists will discuss the above questions and more.
Next Steps After a New Diagnosis
Hearing a medical professional confirm that the memory or language issues one has been experiencing are, in fact, early symptoms of dementia would understandably be cause for concern. While it may only be natural to think about the worst-case scenario, receiving a dementia diagnosis early is actually a good thing as it gives the person and their family more time to plan for the challenges that lie ahead. Sage's dementia specialists will share resources and strategies to help individuals and families prepare for the inevitable changes a dementia diagnosis will bring.
Travel Tips
Traveling with someone who has dementia can be a challenging experience, but with the right preparation and mindset, it can also be an enjoyable and rewarding one. Whether it be a daytime outing or a longer journey, patience, understanding, and careful planning are essential. In this webinar, Sage’s dementia specialists will discuss strategies and tips for arranging and implementing successful trips, not only for persons living with dementia, but for those who are elderly and/or have mobility challenges.
Behavioral Approaches to Dementia Care:
Music, Art, and Reminiscence Therapy
Behavioral treatments for dementia care typically focus on managing the challenging behaviors exhibited by many individuals with dementia while avoiding the use of medications. In this presentation, our dementia specialists will discuss three of the most promising and widely used behavioral approaches: music, art, and reminiscence therapy. Participants will learn strategies for using each of these therapies to improve the quality of life for persons living with dementia and their care partners.
Sensitive Subjects in Dementia Care:
Intimacy, Incontinence, and Therapeutic Fibbing
Sometimes a person living with dementia will engage in behaviors that may cause others, especially family members, to feel uneasy or even embarrassed.
Since the brain changes involved with dementia can cause a person’s inhibitions to be diminished, we may see sexual behaviors that seem unacceptable or out of character for that person.
Incontinence usually begins in the late-middle stage of dementia and not only is it difficult for family members to deal with the personal, hands-on nature of toiletoing care, even discussing the topic of bowel and bladder control is uncomfortable for many.
And, since care partners are often advised to “join the person’s reality,” does that mean it’s okay to take liberties with the truth? Sage's dementia specialists will address these taboo topics and provide care partners with strategies and suggestions for handling sensitive issues.