Hudson Valley Alzheimer's Association Hosts Dementia Conference

From the Alzheimer's Association:

The Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter will host its second annual Meeting of the Minds dementia conference from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 13, at the DoubleTree by Hilton at 455 South Broadway, Tarrytown.

The conference will feature talks by keynote speakers, a research update, and morning and evening breakout sessions with various tracks catering to specific groups, including people with early-stage Alzheimer’s, family members, caregivers, professional caregivers and Spanish-speaking caregivers.

The second keynote speaker of the day will be David Troxel, MPH, author of “A Dignified Life: The Best Friends Approach to Dementia Care.”

Troxel is a consultant on dementia care and training for the long-term care industry. He is also an experienced caregiver, having cared for his mother while she had Alzheimer’s disease for several years.

He said that while tremendous advances have been made in dementia awareness in recent decades, understanding often lags among caregivers on how to maximize the quality of life for people with dementia.

“We’ve tremendously increased awareness about dementia and the need for services, but where are we in terms of delivering quality of life?” Troxel said. “On one level, we’ve had such success with education. But I still go talk to families. … People are still making a lot of mistakes. I think there’s an endless need for coaching, education for the care partners.”

Frustration with the behaviors associated with the disease can sometimes make it easy for caregivers to treat those with dementia in a dismissive manner. The Best Friends approach tackles this problem by stressing the importance of empathy for those with dementia and working to maintain their dignity.

At the conference, Troxel said he plans to share some ideas on how to create a healing atmosphere for people with dementia.

“I’m going to offer strategies to family members and professionals. … How can you create a healing environment,” Troxel said. “How can you get people to engage in meaningful activities. How you can reduce some of the behaviors that are challenging. In many ways, boredom is the enemy.”

Sometimes, Troxel said something as simple as a positive comment can transform a difficult situation. Someone with dementia who might be refusing to cooperate with a caregiver might suddenly cheer up in light of a compliment, defusing the conflict.

“A lot of these approaches don’t take much money or time. You stop and give a compliment. … put the person before the task. Some of those strategies only take a few minutes,” Troxel said.

Respite care is available during the Meeting of the Minds conference. Call Meg Boyce at 800-272-3900 to learn more. Continuing education credits also may be available for the keynote sessions. The conference is accessible from the Metro North Train Station in Tarrytown for a $6 cab fare to the hotel.

Visit AlzDementiaConference.org for details or to register.

Breakout box:

What: Meeting of the Minds, the second annual Hudson Valley Dementia Conference.

Speakers: Dan Cohen, MSW, founder of Music and Memory; David Troxel, MPH, a long-term care expert and author of “The Best Friend’s Approach to Alzheimer’s Care”; and Dean M. Hartley, director of Science Initiatives at the Alzheimer’s Association, who will provide an update on national research initiatives for Alzheimer’s disease.

Breakout sessions: "Celebrating Creativity in Eldercare" by Gary Glazner; "Elder Law Issues; Estate and Medicaid planning, advanced directives, and supplemental needs trusts," by Martin Hersh, Esq.; “Driving & Dementia" by Andrea Sullivan, OT; “Medicaid and Long-Term Care Options" by Colin Sandler; "Living with Alzheimer's" by Greg O'Brien, LCSW; “Stress Management Techniques" by Carole Brill and “The Journey's End: Finding Comfort and Meaning at the End of Life" by Curtis Au, LMSW. Two breakout sessions will be offered for Spanish-speaking caregivers: "Demencia 101: Desde la Perspectiva de la Trabajadora Social” and "Manejando Comportamientos Difíciles," both by Licet Valois of Weill Cornell Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic.

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, May 13

Where: DoubleTree by Hilton, 485 Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591.

Call: 800.272.3900 with questions; register at AlzDementiaConference.org