Nationally Acclaimed Dementia Specialist Provides Free Workshop for Local Seniors and Families

Every 70 seconds someone in the United States is diagnosed with dementia and many of them live right here in Southeast Michigan. As one of the leading providers of in-home senior care, Senior Helpers of Southeast Michigan is hosting a nationally acclaimed dementia specialist, Teepa Snow, who will provide a riveting, free workshop to seniors, families and their caregivers coping with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Teepa will speak with local seniors and families about how to have more moments of joy and positive interactions with their loved one who has dementia throughout their journey.  Registered Nurses and Social Workers can also receive 1.5 free CEs by attending this workshop.

WHO:   Senior Helpers of Southeast Michigan

WHAT:  FREE educational program for families, caregivers and professionals:

               "Letting Go of the Past: Learning to Live in the Here and Now"

WHEN:  Thursday, April 26th

               Choose from one of three sessions: 8 - 10 a.m., 1 - 3 p.m., 5 - 7 p.m.

               Please RSVP by phone (248.865.1000) or email amarkiewicz@seniorhelpers.com

WHERE:  Glen Oaks - located at 30500 13 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI  48334

WHY:  Senior Helpers is sponsoring this workshop as a way to educate

families, caregivers and professionals who are caring for people with dementia. 

"While we wait for a cure, we are proud to offer help from Teepa Snow, a respected expert who has worked with tens of thousands of people living with and trying to cope with dementia," says Barbara Roden, Owner of Senior Helpers in Southeast Michigan.  "We provide care for so many local seniors and we watch the families suffer as dementia takes its toll. Teepa is here to give us the necessary coping skills to survive and understand."

This session is designed to help you:

• Better understand why a person is unable to remain the way they "used to be" and why it is important to appreciate their current understanding of the world and situation in order to best provide support and help.
• Learn skills and techniques that provide the highest probability of success in helping the person be successful and engage in activity and interactions.
• Compare the results and impact of letting go of the past and going with the flow when working with someone living with dementia.

Senior Helpers allows adult children to hire a professional caregiver for just a few hours a day to help with things such as cooking a meal, exercising, taking a client to the doctor's office, running errands, shower and dressing assistance or just keeping someone company.

Teepa Snow and Senior Helpers are joining forces in the fight against dementia and Alzheimer's.  They have co-created Senior Gems, a step-by-step program that teaches local caregivers and families how to care for loved ones in every stage of the disease - ultimately, improving the quality of life for seniors suffering with dementia, and their caregivers.  There are up to 85 different types of dementia, Alzheimer's being just one of them. The more communication tools caregivers have the better they can understand this disease and those living with it.

Did you know?

• More than five million Americans have Alzheimer's disease and there is no cure.  And the number is expected to grow to 13 million in the next 15 years.
• Alzheimer's is the most feared condition for elders. It replaced cancer in the last survey.
• The annual cost of caring for one individual with Alzheimer's disease ranges from nearly $18,500 to more than $65,000, depending on the stage of the disease and the setting.
• It's a progressive brain disorder that's the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
• The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease doubles every five years, beginning at age 65.

About Senior Helpers:

Senior Helpers connects professional caregivers with seniors who wish to live at home as opposed to a nursing or assisted living facility. The company has nearly 300 franchises in 40 states and one Canadian province offering a wide range of personal and companion care services to assist seniors living independently with a strong focus on quality of life for the client and peace of mind for their families. Senior Helpers strives to be the leading companion and personal care provider that offers dependable, consistent and affordable home care. For more information, please visit www.seniorhelpers.com.    

To learn more about Teepa Snow, go to www.teepasnow.com/about_teepa_snow.html.