Understanding and Responding to Dementia Behaviors: Communication Tips & Strategies for Caregivers

Catholic Charities Hawaii (CCH) is offering this expert presenter panel focusing on Dementia-Related Behaviors that can be challenging for caregivers and providers of persons living with dementia in the community. This is the third session of the series which is made possible by a grant given to Catholic Charities Hawaii from the Administration for Community Living/Administration on Aging for the Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative awarded to organizations across the country to increase resources and information to improve the well-being of persons living with dementia in the community and their caregivers. One of the grant objectives is to provide these expert panels via Zoom for statewide attendees in Hawaii, to offer training and support, connection to resources, and a chance to ask questions in the Zoom sessions.

The speakers will cover:

• How dementia affects communication
• Adopting a person-centered approach to strengthen and improve communication
• Strategies to enhance communication with a person living with dementia
• Effective communication with family, friends, and health care professionals
• Underlying causes of challenging behaviors in dementia care
• How unmet needs contribute to challenging situations
• Using positive communication techniques to respond to challenges
• Examining the caregiver’s role and needs in challenging situations

Expert Panel Presenters:

Ivy K. Castallanos, MHS, is the Director of Programs with the Alzheimer’s Association, Hawaii Chapter. She holds a Master’s degree in Behavioral Science and Health Education from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and has more than 20 years’ experience in the combined areas of health education, health promotion and disease prevention, health equity, and corporate wellness. She has served in roles with organizations such as HMSA, the American Heart Association, and HealthAssist, and has held research positions with the Johns Hopkins Center for Cancer Pain Research and the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research in Baltimore, Maryland. Ivy joined the Alzheimer’s Association in 2014 and finds deep fulfillment in empowering families affected by dementia. She is a mom, caregiver, writer, and dance instructor.

Dorothy Colby is a Certified Positive Approach to Care™ (PAC) Trainer and national Mentor, with more than 25 years of professional and personal experience caring for people with dementia and training caregivers. The PAC trainings created by Teepa Snow share dementia care techniques that provide essential information for unpaid and professional caregivers on how to have a positive and meaningful relationship with loved ones living with all forms of dementia. Dorothy is Director of Community Engagement for Hale Kuike Memory Care Homes at Nuuanu, Bayside & Pali locations.

These Zoom workshops are made possible by a grant to Catholic Charities Hawaii from the Administration for Community Living/Administration on Aging for the Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative. They are sponsored by Catholic Charities Hawaii (CCH) Circle of Care for Dementia, in collaboration with Hale Kuike Memory Care Homes.

Check out Catholic Charities Hawaii Circle of Care for Dementia previous archived dementia workshop videos and handouts at this link:
https://www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org/caring-for-persons-living-with-dementia-webinars-and-presentations/