Families and health care professionals seeking guidance on dementia care will have an opportunity to learn from internationally recognized educator Teepa Snow during a seminar on Nov. 5 at Cape Fear Botanical Garden.
Southern Regional AHEC and its partners will present “Supporting Cognitive Health and Dementia Care Across the Lifespan” from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the garden, 536 N. Eastern Blvd. The program will address cognitive wellness, communication, caregiving challenges and planning for future care needs.
The event comes as North Carolina prepares for an older population over the next five years. By 2030, about 1 in 5 North Carolinians is projected to be at least 65, according to the state Office of State Budget and Management.
The agency projects that between 2025 and 2030, the population age 65 and older will grow at three times the rate of the state's total population. That demographic shift provides a backdrop for discussions about supporting older adults and preparing families and professionals for changing care needs.
The seminar is designed for people supporting loved ones at home and professionals serving patients and families. Sessions will emphasize practical guidance for everyday interactions while preserving dignity, independence and quality of life.
Snow, the featured speaker, is an occupational therapist with more than four decades of clinical and educational experience. Her career includes work with Duke University Medical Center’s neurological rehabilitation team, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s geriatric clinic and facilities providing long term care.
After earning a zoology degree from Duke, Snow entered UNC’s occupational therapy master’s program in 1978. She graduated in 1980 as part of its first class. Her work also reflects personal experiences supporting relatives with changes in brain function.
Through her organization, Positive Approach to Care, Snow teaches families and professionals how to understand and respond to people living with dementia. Her approach connects knowledge of brain changes with adjustments in communication and assistance.
At the Fayetteville seminar, Snow will explore brain changes associated with dementia, communication techniques and responses to challenging behaviors. Participants will learn approaches intended to help them recognize changing abilities and adapt their caregiving.
Other presentations will address cognitive wellness and preparations for future needs.
Dr. Rhunelle Murray will discuss brain health, nutrition and lifestyle habits that support cognitive wellness. Her presentation will broaden the discussion beyond caregiving to include everyday approaches to supporting brain health.
Jason Sutton will cover essential estate planning documents, decision making tools and asset protection related to long term care. Those topics will complement the caregiving sessions by addressing legal and financial preparations families may need to consider.
Partners include the Mid Carolina Area Agency on Aging, Dementia Alliance of North Carolina and Positive Approach to Care.
Registration costs $50 for family and community caregivers and $75 for health care professionals. The deadline to register is Oct. 29.
Participants can register through the Southern Regional AHEC website at https://bit.ly/48aXPlE, where the program is listed under its seminar title. Event information is available for those considering attending with family or colleagues.