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Dementia Dialogues

Great class, every caretaker and family member should attend.

Family Participant

View Dementia Dialogues Schedule

 

 


Impact
Mary Baldauf has taken Dementia Dialogues several times to better understand what her husband is going through. Mary and Richard, an avid fisherman, planned to retire and buy a boat when she began to suspect something. "I would go to the doctor and say something is not quite right here," she recalls.

Richard was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. He was 63 years old. "It made me feel so sad it. It just absolutely broke my heart and I started the grieving process." Mary was able to prepare herself for the progression of the disease by taking the free class on Alzheimer's and dementia (Dementia Dialogues).

Watch Mary talk about her experience in an excerpt from WLTX News.

 


Class Description
Dementia Dialogues is a 5-session training course designed to educate individuals who care for persons who exhibit signs and symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementias.  Over 13,000 direct care staff and caregivers have been trained and over 6,000 have completed the course.

Jeanette Brown, Food Service Director at Driftwood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in North Charleston, became the 10,000th individual to enroll in Dementia Dialogues since its inception in 2002.

Jan Merling presents a certificate of completion to Allison Poole, the 5000th participant to complete all five sessions of Dementia Dialogues.  Ms. Poole is currently a Medical Social Worker with Heartland Hospice in Charleston.

An estimated 22 million people worldwide have Alzheimer’s disease. Approximately 5 million live in the United States. The number of people with the disease doubles every 5 years.

The Alzheimer’s Disease Registry reports that 7.8% of South Carolinians age 65 or over and 31% age 85 or over have Alzheimer’s disease. An estimated 16,000 new cases will occur between 2005 and 2010.

I appreciated a real nuts and bolts series.

Registered Nurse

Although much research has been conducted on the cause and cure of Alzheimer’s disease, little information is available about hands-on care. Dementia Dialogues provides the most current and practical information in the care of people with dementia. OSA’s extensive research supports this training program which assists caregivers through the following topics:

  • Part 1: The Basic Facts (An Introduction to Dementia)
  • Part 2: Keeping the Dialogue Going (Communication Skills)
  • Part 3: It’s a Different World (Environment: Safety and Helpful Hints)
  • Part 4: It’s Nothing Personal (Addressing Challenging Behaviors)
  • Part 5: Now What Do I Do? (Creative Problem Solving)

I believe in this course and it has helped me personally with my mother
who is borderline 3rd stage.

Agency Training Specialist
(also a Dementia Dialogues Trainer)

 

I have started speaking slower to my patients, stating one thing at a time and giving them more time to respond. Giving them choices has also been a plus.

Activity Director

Each of the 5 sessions is approximately 90 minutes in length. Participants will be awarded a Dementia Specialist Certificate after completion of all 5 sessions. Recommended participants include CNAs, PCAs, nurses, family members, activity directors, and anyone who interacts with individuals with dementia.  Training is provided at no cost to participants.

View the Dementia Dialogues Course Description and Schedule.

If you have any questions, call (803) 318-1601.

If you would like to attend Dementia Dialogues, print and complete the Registration for Dementia Dialogues (PDF Format) and fax it to (803) 777-0246 or mail it to:

Jan Merling

Office for the Study of Aging

Arnold School of Public Health

University of South Carolina

Columbia, SC 29208

Additional Dementia Resources:
What You Need to Know About Me: A Notebook for Families and Caregivers (PDF format)

Dementia Dialogues Train-the-Trainer

Are you a Dementia Dialogues Graduate?  Are you interested in sharing? 

Learn about the Dementia Dialogues Train-the-Trainer course.