Conference Agenda
Autism Panel: Autism Across the Ages
Presenters:
Dr. Kathryn Ellerbeck, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, KU School of Medicine
Nan Perrin, Director, Children Services, Community Learning Opportunities
Kristen Sneid, Caregiver
A panel discussion on the challenges and rewards of caring for Autistic individuals of different ages in both the home and the community; Learn about the support services that are in place to help the primary physician with the screening and early diagnosis of this disease; and the community resources and home health services that family caregivers can access.
Alzheimer’s Disease: Hope on the Horizon
Presenter:
Michelle Niedens, Director of Education, Heart of America Chapter - Alzheimer's Association
A conversation about the changing face of Alzheimer’s disease – including increasing importance of early detection, new understanding about early stage Alzheimer’s disease, avenues to support brain function, current interventions and expected interventions on the horizon.
Thursday, November 1st, Opening Keynote
Health Effects on Caregiving
Presenter:
Richard Schulz, PhD, Director, University Center for Social and Urban Research, Associate Director, University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging
Health Effects talk will synthesize and summarize recent work on mental and physical health effects of caregiving. The focus will be on how and why caregiving leads to increased physical and psychiatric morbidity.
Thursday, November 1st, 10:00am-11:45am
Intervention Strategies for Dementia Caregiving
Presenter:
Richard Schulz, PhD, Director, University Center for Social and Urban Research, Associate Director, University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging
Intervention strategies talk will provide an overview of successful strategies for improving the health and well-being of caregivers of patients with dementia. Results of the recent REACH intervention trial will be presented.
Update on State and Federal Autism Legislation
Presenter:
Mike Wasmer, DVM, Co-Founder, Kansas Coalition for Autism, parent of child with autism
An update on State and Federal Legislation relative to Autism, with an emphasis on recent progress in the Kansas Legislature.
Thursday, November 1st, Luncheon Keynote
The Gifts of Caregiving – Stories of Hardship, Hope and Healing –
Presenter:
Connie Goldman, public radio producer, writer, speaker
Serving as a family caregiver can be a time of learning whether you are 40 or 80. My presentation will share conversations with several family caregivers; some well-known, some not so well-known, who tell their personal stories of caring for ill, disabled, or aging loved ones. Healing can come from looking beyond the stress and grief of the situation and knowing that others have found insights, healing, and personal growth through even the worst times.
Thursday, November 1st, 1:45pm-3:00pm
Hospice and End of Life Issues for Caregivers
Presenter:
Ashley Lee, Clinical Director, Care Alternatives
Discussion and considerations will be explored surrounding end of life matters for caregivers.
Caregiver Team Building Session
Presenters:
Sharon McGee-Minor, OTR/L, Rehabilitation Works Educational Programs
Mitzi McFatrich, Executive Director, Foundation on Aging, the Kansas City Partnership for Caregivers
Learn how to organize teams of concerned community members to rally as a coordinated body of caregiving. A team approach has several benefits, including a much larger pool of volunteers to provide the necessary care. Make sure you know the most efficient way of building a successful team.
Ms. McFatrich will present a model for creating and sustaining a dynamic caregiving coalition. A strong caregiving coalition can provide visibility of and access to resources and information for caregivers of older adults.
Thursday, November 1st, 3:15pm-5:00pm
Legal Issues to Consider for Caregivers: A Panel Discussion
Presenters:
Constance Alvey, Attorney, Deputy District Attorney - Wyandotte County, KS
Karl G. Johnson, Attorney at Law
A panel of expert legal counsel and caregivers will explore specific legal issues surrounding caregivers. The panel will explore Durable Power of Attorney, Guardianship and Conservator, Living Wills, and other legal considerations for caregivers. The panel will also include a caregiver to offer a real-life perspective on the matter.
Providing Care for Those Who Care: Caregiving for Persons with Dementia
Presenter:
Marla Berg-Weger, PhD., Professor, School of Social Work, Saint Louis University
Using a strengths-based perspective, this presentation will focus on caregiving for persons with dementia as experienced by family and other informal caregivers. The speaker will present general demographic, dementia-related information and a profile of today's caregivers. The presentation will conclude with an overview of strengths-based intervention that may be used in working with caregivers, including the Caregiver Well-Being Scale.
Ethical Considerations for Caregiving
Presenter:
Sabrina Perez Glatt, LMSW, Director of Field Practicum, School of Social Work, Wichita State University
This session will focus on ethical considerations and issues involving caregiving. Specific focus on the empowerment of those receiving care and the ethical point of view in the self-care of the caregiver.
Friday, November 2nd, 8:30am-9:45am
Getting Rid of Stuff
Presenter:
Marion Pietz, humorist and motivational speaker; licensed professional counselor and marriage family therapist.
A healthy and humorous reminder about how we spend our emotional energy and the effects it has on our own health and relationships.
Key Technology Trends: Care Management Tools
Presenter:
Carol Smith, RN, PhD, Professor-University of Kansas School of Nursing
Discover how advancements in technology can assist the hands on, as well as long distance caregivers. Learn what is new and being utilized in Kansas in the field of technology.
Advocacy 101: A Panel Discussion
Presenters:
Kay Wolf, Kansas State Representative
Tom Laing, Executive Director, Interhab, Inc.
Sheli Sweeney, Policy and Research Analyst, Association of Community Mental Health Center of Kansas
Craig Kaberline, Executive Director, Kansas Area Agencies on Aging Association
Want to boost your advocacy skills at the local and state levels? A panel of seasoned advocates shares their experiences, offer suggestions for action, and explains why advocacy is not as hard as it looks… but is very important.
Friday, November 2nd, 10:00am-11:45am
Caregiving and Advocacy …… It Never Stops
Presenters:
Gilbert Cruz, Kansas State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Carol Scott, Missouri State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Department of Health & Senior Services
This session will discuss the ways and importance of continuing in your caregiving role and advocate for a loved after they have entered a long-term care facility.
Technology and Distance Caregiving
Presenter:
Ken Nixon, President, Caregiver Technologies
This session will focus on research results and how technology can be used by distance caregivers to address the needs of both caregivers and care recipients. Most of their research has focused on caregivers of persons with dementia; the session will address using technology with persons with dementia too.
Caregiving Has Crapped Out My Mental Wellness
Presenter:
Nancy Trout, MSW, LSCSW
How do you protect your own state of mental wellness when you’re a caregiver? Hear how important it is to maintain a sense of mental wellness for strength and stamina as a caregiver. Understand how mental wellness contributes to better caregiving, no matter the reason for providing care.
Friday, November 2nd, Closing Keynote
Laughing Your Way Through Stress
Presenter:
Marion Pietz, humorist and motivational speaker; licensed professional counselor and marriage family therapist.
A humorous look at how we can deal and overcome stress in our lives.
