Evidence-Based Programs: How They Help Caregivers of People Living with Dementia Dr. David Bass, Senior Vice President, Senior Research Scientist and Director of the Center for Research and Education at Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, discusses evidence-based programs, how they can help individuals with dementia and their family and friend caregivers, and how to access them in your area. This video was developed as a part of the Expansion of Dementia-Capable Communities within Urban and Rural Settings in Ohio using Evidence-Based and Informed Programming project, funded by the Administration for Community Living, Alzheimer’s Disease Program’s Initiative. Read more
Creative Arts Programming for Older Adults Finding meaningful ways to engage with an older loved one can be a challenge, especially during the pandemic. For those looking for an activity to do together with a loved one—whether indoors or outdoors—creative arts may be a good place to start! Helping a loved one get in touch with their creative side can offer many benefits and may be easier to do than we think. Read more
Communicating a Loved One’s Health and Dementia Behaviors to Children Finding out that a family member has dementia and providing care for them can be full of both challenges and meaningful moments. It also impacts the whole family. When we add children into the mix, certain situations can get even more difficult to handle. Many of us may be struggling with how to communicate a loved one’s health or dementia-related behaviors to young children, such as a loved one’s grandchildren, especially regarding what to say and how to say it. However, having these important discussions can also be a positive shifting point in our relationships with them. Read more
Making the Transition to Long Term Care a Successful Choice Have you made the decision to transition your loved one to long-term care? This can change your role as a caregiver and return your relationship with your loved one to one that is more personal and familial. How can you make this a decision that both incorporates your loved one’s preferences and supports their personal values? This webinar will discuss important topics for this transition, including the assessment process, how to communicate with long-term care facilities and care planning. Read more
Together We Walk: A Dementia Journey Each individual’s journey with dementia is unique. This webinar led by the Hospice of the Western Reserve will provide information on the types of dementia and their effects on the brain, and introduce participants to just some of the experiences of people living with dementia. Through this interactive presentation, you will develop a deeper understanding of how these individuals navigate the world, and how hospice can support them and their family and friend caregivers. Our goal is to be able to better care for our loved ones and neighbors by walking a mile in their shoes. Lastly, you will learn from Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging about an evidence-based care-coaching program, BRI Care Consultation™, that is available for free in Cuyahoga, Athens and Washington Counties to support individuals with, or at risk of, dementia, including individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their caregivers. Read more
I Can’t Be the Caregiver Anymore: How to Transition from Your Role Becoming a caregiver to an older loved one is a big commitment, and like other commitments in life—wedding vows between spouses, the responsibilities of parenting—it can often feel binding. Many of those who become caregivers do so with the intentions of staying in this role until their loved one passes away. However, this is not always possible or realistic. Read more
Understanding and Managing Dementia-Related Behavior Changes A loved one with dementia will experience many changes as the disease progresses. Though dementia is most commonly associated with memory loss, the changes dementia causes to the brain impact more than just memory—personality and behavior can be affected as well. We may feel that a loved one with dementia isn’t “acting like themselves” or that their actions might be “uncharacteristic.” Sometimes this can manifest in small ways, like being less alert than usual, or being more talkative around strangers. Other times, they may say or do something much more difficult to handle, like having an outburst of anger in public or making a sexually inappropriate comment. Read more
Home Health CAHPS FAQs: Understanding the CAHPS Rating In 2016, CMS added the Star Rating System to the information presented on the Home Health Compare website. This visual element is designed to make it easier for consumers to compare providers, but the methodology behind the Star Ratings can be a little difficult to understand. To help clarify, we’ve developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions to provide answers to some of our most common inquiries. Read more
The Caregiver’s Guide to Estate Planning When was the last time you and your loved one had a discussion about estate planning? If you’re like many people, it’s probably been a while. This webinar will discuss what important financial and medical documents are necessary in case of an emergency, and what to do in those situations. Having these items prepared and organized will not only protect your loved one, but as a caregiver it will give you peace of mind to know that everything is taken care of in advance. Read more
BRIA Comment for the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Task Force, Public Forum On Thursday, July 15, 2021, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging President and CEO Orion Bell delivered this testimony at The Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) Task Force Public Forum. The Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Task Force was established by the Ohio General Assembly to examine the needs of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, the services available in this state for those individuals, and the ability of health care providers and facilities to meet the individuals' current and future needs. This testimony highlights three important recommendations to the Task Force to address quality of life and care concerns for individuals living with dementia and their family and friend caregivers in Ohio. Read more
