Dementia Capability Training Moves Online

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On November 1 and 4, MNRAAA is hosting an online Dementia Capability training for 16 caregiver consultants in our 27-county service area. Caregiver consultants help caregivers develop strategies to achieve a balanced lifestyle that enhances their ability to provide good care and manage their well-being. This will be the first time this training is offered in a virtual format.

Dementia Capability training is part of the professional standards that caregiver consultants in Minnesota need to complete. Heidi Haley-Franklin delivers the training, MSW, LICSW, the Vice President of Programs at the MN ND chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and Dr. Terry Barclay, the Director of the Neuropsychology Department at HealthPartners and Regions Hospital in St. Paul and Research Investigator with HealthPartners Center for Memory and Aging and the Institute for Medical Research.

The training will help participants recognize common dementia syndromes, learn to administer several cognitive screening tools, develop practical plans to support individuals with dementia and their families, and learn strategies for partnering with the medical community to provide good dementia care.

The topics covered in two half-day training sessions include Recent Alzheimer’s Research and Emerging Therapies, Identification of Dementia Subtypes, Appropriate Activities for Each Stage of the Disease, Communication and Behavior Management, Cognitive Screening Tools and Practice, Care Planning, Case Studies, and Navigating the Medical Community. MNRAAA is excited to pilot this training online.

Caregiver consultants are attending from the following organizations: A.C.E of Southwest MN, Adara Home Health, CCM Health, Granite Falls Living At Home Block Nurse Program, Grove City Area Care Living At Home Program, Interfaith Caregivers, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Prairie Five Community Action Council, Inc, VINE Faith in Action, and Waseca Area Caregiver Services.

To find a caregiver consultant near you, call the Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433.

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Stop – Look – Review for 2022

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Once again, it’s time for Medicare Open Enrollment, which runs from October 15 through December 7. This is the time when you can make changes to your Medicare and/or your prescription drug plan for the coming year.

According to Robin Thompson, Information and Assistance Director with the Senior LinkAge Line®, “too many people on Medicare ignore this time-limited opportunity to review Medicare plan options that could save them money and improve their benefits. People shop around for gas, food and household goods, but don’t consider the fact that health insurance is one of their most costly expenses.”

People have a lot of different excuses for not taking the time to review their Medicare plan choices — it’s so confusing, or I like my current plan, or I don’t want to have to mess with changing plans. Let the Senior LinkAge Line do the heavy lifting by helping you explore your options so you can find a plan that best meets your needs.

The Senior LinkAge Line is Minnesota’s federally designated State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). We provide free non-biased help with all issues related to Medicare. Trained specialists are available Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Don’t wait until it’s too late, call the Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433 to make sure you have the plan that is best for you.

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Planning and Paying for Long Term Care

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Where and how you live is very important to all of us. This becomes even more important as we age. To make sure you’re in the driver’s seat for your future, you need to develop a plan – your plan. Attend a presentation by staff from the Senior LinkAge Line® and learn how to plan and pay for your long-term care needs. We can help you get started!

Planning ahead is about your future—for the expected (death someday) and the unexpected (not being able to care for yourself). Having a plan in place means you get to choose – where and how you live and who will take care of you. And knowing what you want will give your family peace of mind, make caring for you easier and save money.

Right now, you manage your finances and make informed medical decisions. Planning ensures that you make decisions in advance that your agents—the people you choose to carry out your wishes—will do for you.

Life is unpredictable. Start planning now to make sure you can live where and how you want to live as you age.

Everyone’s needs are different, but there is a lot you can do now to get your plan in place.

When: Tuesday, September 21- 1:00PM

Where: Free Virtual Online Class via Zoom

To attend this class, please pre-register at:  https://bit.ly/3CdRMuC

Please contact your Murray County A.C.E. Coordinator Joyce Wiekeraad at (507)836-8705 with any questions or for assistance in pre-registering for this presentation.

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