Summer Groups!

Greetings, everyone! I hope you all are enjoying our sunshine, brief though it sometimes is. Our groups this summer will be:

Seattle     June 9, July 14   10-11:30
Everett    June 13, July 11     11-12:30

There will be no groups in August as I will be out of town. Take care, and hope to see you all soon!

Group.

I'm sorry to say that I am cancelling Monday's group in Seattle. I am feeling unwell and will be unable to hold the meeting. I hope to be better by Friday, and invite anyone who can make it to my Everett group. Otherwise, I will see everyone April 14th.

Teepa Snow is Coming!

For those of you who don't know who she is, Teepa Snow is the acknowledged and recognized expert on dementia behavior and how to help caregivers deal with it positively. She is an amazing practitioner of respectful and compassionate techniques, a great teacher for caregivers and professionals, and a truly empathetic and kind caregiver advocate. She is coming to Seattle for these events - I am lucky enough to be going to the February 11th session. Hopefully, I will learn more helpful techniques to pass on to my caregivers!

CAREFORCE Hosts Dementia Expert Teepa Snow
for the Tenth Consecutive Year in the Seattle Area
February 11-14, 2014

Space is limited for all sessions with Teepa Snow in February 2014
Pre-registration is Highly Recommended.
Pre-registration Required for CEUs** (see below)

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February 11 - Morning and Afternoon Bothell, WA
9:30 AM - Noon How to Communicate with Someone with Dementia
1:00-4:00 PM Making Moments of Joy for People with Dementia

Cost: Free to family caregivers - $10 per session for CEUs. Lunch Provided.Location: Northshore Senior Center  10201 E. Riverside Dr., Bothell, WA 98011
Registration Contact: Nikki Bagli (425) 984-7183   nikkib@seniorservices.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Sponsors: Northshore Senior Center; Family Caregiver Network of Snohomish County;
Snohomish County Long Term Care & Aging; Chateau at Bothell Landing;
The Alzheimer's Association of Western & Central Washington; CAREFORCE

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February 12 - Morning and Afternoon Sessions - Everett, WA8:30 AM - Noon Dementia 360 - Understanding Dementia from Everyone's Perspective12:30 - 4:00 PM   Non-Traditional Stress Management for People Dementia and Their Caregivers

Cost: Free to the Public - $10 per session for CEUs
Location: Everett Elks Club, 2802 Hoyt Ave., Everett, WA 98201
Registration Contact: Providence Hospice and Home Care (425) 261-4800Sponsors: Providence Hospice and Home Care of Snohomish County; CAREFORCE

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February 12 - Evening Session - Seattle, WA
7:00 - 9:00 PM - Making Moments of Joy for The Person with Dementia

Cost: Free to the Public Location: Horizon House Sky Lounge, 900 University St., Seattle, WA 98101Registration Contact: CAREFORCE (425) 712-1999Sponsors: The Alzheimer's Service Coalition; CAREFORCE

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February 13 - Morning and Afternoon Sessions - Seattle, WA10:00 - Noon -What Happens to Memory? What is Lost and What is Kept?1:00 - 4:00 PM - The Effect of Lifelong Personality Traits and Preferences on Behavior and Needs

Cost: Free to the Public - $10 per session for CEUs
Location: The Greenwood Senior Center, 525 N 85th St., Seattle, WA 98103
Registration Contact: The Greenwood Senior Center (206) 297-0875
Sponsors: The Greenwood Senior Center; CAREFORCE________________________________________________

February 14 - Morning and Afternoon Sessions - Seattle, WA8:30 - 11:30 AM - How to Communicate with a Person with Dementia12:30 - 2:30 PM - What Happens to Memory? What is Lost and What is Kept?

Cost: $20 per session - plus $10 per session for CEUs
Location: Jefferson Community Center, 3801 Beacon Ave S. 98108
Registration Contact: CAREFORCE (425) 712-1999;
Parks Department Employees Use Regular Registration Process
Sponsors: The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department; CAREFORCE

Groups in the New Year!

Hello, hello, I hope everyone's new year has gotten off to a great start! Our groups are continuing into 2014 and I look forward to seeing familiar and new faces.

Seattle Group
Second Monday morning of the month, 10-11:30am.

Everett Group
Second Friday morning of the month, please note we have changed our start time! 11-12:30pm.

All are welcome, even if you aren't sure whether your loved one has Lewy Body. It was pointed out to me by one of our group members that caregiver issues are caregiver issues, regardless of what illness we are dealing with. I heartily agree!

It's a Whole New Year.

I hope everyone had a manageable holiday season.  Sometimes this can be the hardest time of the year if your family isn't what it once was.  In the New Year, I wish all of you more abundance, patience, and assistance!

Our support groups are still going strong.  Make it part of your New Year's resolutions to get yourself the support you need through going to group.  You wouldn't believe the information, comfort, and friendship we all share that's waiting for you. 

To those current members of my groups, I'm so glad to have had the chance to get to know you and share your lives, and I look forward to more of it!

Seattle group in January is Monday, the13th at 10am.
Everett group in January is Friday, the 10th at 10am.

December groups!

We had a great Everett group on Friday, and we welcome our newest members!  This is a tough thing to be dealing with and we are so grateful for your honest emotions and sharing of possibilities. 

As you all know, we are heading into the holidays.  Argh.  I was just speaking to someone and I asked about their plans for Thanksgiving.  This person talked about the family that was coming, and the food, and that they were looking forward to it.  Then the person mentioned that Thanksgiving was the anniversary of their spouse's stroke!  So a double whammy - first Thanksgiving without a spouse as well as the anniversary of a serious illness.  Remember to be gentle with yourselves as we approach the holiday season.  It can be hard for all sorts of reasons, as I learned above.

Take extra time for yourself if you need it, or spend more time with family and friends.  Perform whatever rituals make you happy, and don't worry if there is a little crying!  Above all, put yourself first and be aware that you may feel some physical effects as well as emotional and mental.

We will be having our December groups as normal.  Seattle group the 9th at 10am; Everett group the 13th at 10am. 

Take care!

Jury Update.

My jury duty had been deferred a few months so I will be present at both groups in November.  Let normal programming resume.