Alternative Senior Care Presents: Activities for the Person with Dementia

304 Elm Street South,Sauk Centre MN 56378

16 September, 2021

Description

Creating Pleasure, Purpose & Peace: ‘Activities’ for the Person with Dementia Erin Bonitto, M.S., A.D.C. – Founder of Gemini Consulting Alternative Senior Care Presents Champion Training Series: Creating Pleasure, Purpose & Peace: ‘Activities’ for the Person with Dementia Erin Bonitto, M.S., A.D.C. – Founder of Gemini Consulting For Caregivers, Health Professionals, Ministry Staff, Family and Friends If you have ever cared for a person with dementia – either professionally or personally – you have probably had times when you’ve wondered: “What can I do with the person to help pass the time? To help decrease their behavioral symptoms? To help improve their mood? To help them feel purposeful? To help us truly connect with one another?” While there are no easy answers to any of these questions, there are countless creative and proven ideas to explore. Session participants will hear from Erin Bonitto, a nationally known dementia communication coach, who also has a wealth of dementia programming expertise. Erin will guide participants through a workshop-style class, exploring real-world, strength-based activity ideas that can be adapted across a variety of settings, including in-home care, assisted living, skilled nursing homes and memory care. The discussion will include how we actually define ‘an activity’ in dementia care, skills for successful cuing, strategies for engaging persons who may be reluctant or difficult to engage, and how to increase the likelihood of joyful connection for the care partner and the person. Finally, participants will explore the important link between activity engagement and the prevention of challenging behavioral symptoms common in dementia. Learning Objectives for CEUs • Define and discuss several categories of strength-based activities for persons with dementia, including specific examples of each activity type • List dementia communication skills and strategies that increase the likelihood of successful, pleasurable engagement for the person with dementia. • Describe how strength-based activities can result in decreased intensity and frequency of challenging behavioral symptoms of dementia. Erin Bonitto, M.S., A.D.C. – Founder & Lead Coach, Gemini Consulting. As the Founder and Lead Coach of Gemini Consulting, Erin Bonitto provides hands-on dementia communication coaching at partner communities across the nation, including skilled nursing homes, assisted living centers, memory care and home health providers. Using the ‘Buddies Forever Dementia Communication Coaching System,’ Erin’s partner communities learn how to provide persons with dementia the gifts of pleasure, purpose and peace – while making measurable impacts on clinical and operational goals related to psychotropic use, behavioral outcomes, fall rates, team member morale and family satisfaction. These projects have been grant-funded in several states and described by providers as their ‘missing link’ to culture transformation. Her educational background includes an M.S. in Gerontology and an Activity Director Certification – but her true education began with jobs in dietary and caregiving, throughout her high school and college years. When Erin is not providing coaching, she can be found as a popular featured speaker at aging services conferences. Additionally, Erin is a frequent presenter and coach for family, community, and lay caregiver groups – providing strategies with empathy – having a close loved one with dementia herself. She has been described as a speaker who “can bring tears to your eyes and make you laugh out loud,” all while delivering real-world, nuts and bolts tools that participants can put to use immediately Free CEUS!!