Dementia Info, Support Offered For Caregivers At Wellness Day

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — If you are caring for a family member with dementia or Alzheimer's, Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey is presenting a free afternoon of information and support on Thursday.

The Dementia Awareness & Wellness Day is set for 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Calgo Gardens, 462 Adelphia-Farmingdale Road, Howell.

There will be more than 25 experts and professionals available to offer advice and help connect families with services for those with dementia.

Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey describes itself as "an interfaith nonprofit agency dedicated to providing free supportive services to the frail elderly and the home-bound, enabling them to live independently and with dignity in their own homes."

The organization assists those who are 60 years of age or older, or a family caregiver; who are no longer driving, are living in their own home and living in northern Ocean and southern Monmouth counties.

You do not have to register ahead of time to participate in the event.

The doors open at 2 p.m. Here is the schedule of events:

2:15 p.m.-3 p.m.: Dr. Anna Brocco, PharmD, MBA, of Advanced Memory Research Institute of NJ, speaking on "Alzheimer’s and other Dementia: Treatments, Research and Hope."

3 p.m.-4 p.m.: Self-care workshops

• The Yoga Loft – Register at Door: Free mini chair yoga classes from 3:15 p.m.-4 p.m. with Kathleen. No experience necessary.
• Free 15-minute Reiki sessions with Elena from 3 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
• At the Chicken Coop with Taylor – Gardening and Animals – promoting wellness!

4:15 p.m.–5 p.m.: Deb Hallisay, author and caregiver advocate, speaking on "The Caregiver Contract."

5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.: Dinner and a movie at the Tulip Tree Cafe. Enjoy a light, healthy dinner and see the award-winning film "ALIVE INSIDE."

Resource Providers

The following organizations will be on hand to answer questions and share information about their programs and services:

• Advanced Memory Research of NJ
• Alzheimer’s Association
• Anne Marie Schreiber – Elder Law Attorney
• Artis Senior Living – Eatontown & Brick
• Atlantic Physical Therapy
• Bayada Homecare and Hospice
• Beacon of Life. PACE Program
• Deb Hallisey, Caregiver Advocate
• Caring Connections of New Jersey
• Chefs for Seniors Harrogate LifeCare
• Holisticare Hospice
• Marquis Health Services
• Mobility Doctor
• New York Life-Robert Brai
• Oasis Senior Advisors
• Right at Home
• RWJ Barabus Behavioral Health Center
• SCAN
• Max Health and Wellness
• Springpoint Senior Living – Manalapan
• Town Square at the Jerey Shore -Brick
• Tulip Tree Cafe at Calgo Gardens
• Veteran Care Services
• Visiting Physicians Services
• We Care Adult Day Center -Red Bank
• The Yoga Loft

About the Speakers

Alzheimer’s and other Dementia: Treatments, Research and Hope: Anna Brocco, PharmD, MBA, Advanced Memory Research Institute. Brocco has a doctorate in pharmacy from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in business. She worked at Community Medical Center as a staff pharmacist specializing in IV medication preparation and at the Advanced Memory Research Institute uses her skills to assist in preparing and dispensing study medications. She is committed to research and works to bring new studies to the center to provide opportunities for all patients to participate.

The Caregiver Contract: Deb Hallisey, of advocateformomanddad.com, is a past and present caregiver. She cared for her father until he died in 2015 of congestive heart failure, and then became responsible for her disabled mother. As she took on the roles of financial adviser, caregiver, social director — as well as her continuing role as daughter — she found herself asking “what do I do?” and “where do I start?” She brought her 25 years of experience as a consultant building and enhancing corporate training programs for Fortune 500 companies to the problem and learned how many other people are in a similar situation. Her website, Advocate for Mom and Dad, offers practical advice for caregivers and so they can learn from others how they handled challenges on issues such as legal, financial, insurance, and caregiving. She is a certified caregiving consultant and certified dementia practitioner.