By SARA GIBONEY
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – “Life with Dementia: Identification and Caregiving” is the theme for the sixth annual Conference on Aging at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
The conference, sponsored by the UNK Department of Social Work and Cambridge Court Assisted Living, is from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday in the Nebraskan Student Union Ponderosa Room.
“The journey from identification to caregiving can be turbulent and challenging for all systems of care, with the individual and family at the center,” said Maha Younes, chair of the UNK Social Work Department. “Conference speakers will provide helpful information about dementia-related disorders, the impact on family dynamics, treatment approaches and recommendations to assist families and providers.”
Diane Hendricks, licensed clinical social worker, will present “One Disease Multiple Generations: Helping Families in the Early Stages of Dementia” at 12:30 p.m. and “Dementia, the Game Changer: Facilitating Family Dynamics when the Rules and Roles Change” at 1:45 p.m.
Hendricks has over 30 years of health care experience. She currently serves as a clinical social worker at Nebraska Medicine Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology. She has also contracted as a care consultant and educator with the Alzheimer’s Association.
Dr. Anna Fisher, a certified dementia practitioner, will present “Current Approaches and Future Innovations in Dementia Care” at 3 p.m.
Fisher serves as Hillcrest Health Services health, quality and nursing services education expert for assisted living, memory support, adult day services, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, home health care, private duty, telehealth, palliative hospice and skilled nursing care.
She is also an adjunct professor at Bellevue University and co-producer of the NET Television series “Now What?,” which is about elder care and dementia.
The conference concludes with caregivers sharing their experiences and the lessons learned along the way.
Registration for professionals is $50 and includes 3.75 continuing education credits.
Registration for UNK students, faculty and seniors 60 and over is free. Current field placement supervisors and department committee members can also register for free. To obtain a promotional code to use during registration, or for more information, contact Suzanne Exstrom at 308.865.8739 or exstromsr@unk.edu.
To register, go to unk.edu/AgingConf2016.
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Writer: Sara Giboney, 308.865.8529, giboneys2@unk.edu
Source: Maha Younes, 308.865.8741, younesm@unk.edu
