Dementia Care Topic of UW’s Wyoming Dementia Together Program Sept. 25

"Dementia Care: Family Dynamics and Communication" is the topic of the next Wyoming Dementia Together (WDT) program Wednesday, Sept. 25.

WDT is a statewide, nonprofit caregiver network operating through the University of Wyoming's Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA). WDT meets by Zoom call every other Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Programs feature guest speakers and allow time for interaction from those who attend online.

Carol Taylor, a licensed clinical social worker in Jackson, says family relationships directly affect the team of loved ones caring for someone living with dementia -- and it is important to acknowledge and understand those nuances. She will expand on this topic and others during the latest program. Taylor will cover the roles, attributes and limitations of individual members of the care team, and she will explain how effective communication techniques can enhance the connection between the care team and the loved one.

"For instance, it is critically important to understand the power of the spoken word," she says. "It is an aspect that is often understandably overlooked by care team members who are already challenged with their daily responsibilities. We will be discussing how fostering peaceful exchanges can deepen the relationship between the care team and their loved one."

WDT includes dementia care professionals, licensed clinical social workers, a neuropsychologist, an occupational therapist and caregivers themselves. WDT began meeting in fall 2020 and since has been offering online programming help.

Future WDT programs will be "3Ds: Dementia, Delirium, Depression" Oct. 9; "Legal and Financial Considerations in Dementia" Oct. 23; "Behavioral Challenges: Responding to Distress in Dementia" Nov. 6; "Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Caregiver" Nov. 20; "Peace, Love and Joy in the Holiday Season" Dec. 4; and "Our Gift to You: Ask the Professional Support Team" Dec. 18.

For information about registering for Zoom calls and the other free services offered by WDT, call WyCOA at (307) 766-2829 or email [email protected].

For more information, go to the WDT Caregiver Network website.