Changes in communication and behaviour are very common in people living with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.
Area families can learn practical techniques for living with those changes during a free tele-workshop offered by the non-profit Alzheimer Society of B.C.
Understanding Behaviour runs on Wednesday, May 13 and offers practical strategies for dealing with the challenges of supporting a person with dementia at home.
"Caregivers will learn how to understand behaviour as a form of communication," says Jan Robson, provincial co-ordinator for the society. "We will explore strategies to determine what the person with dementia might be trying to communicate, to find ways to decrease the occurrence of behaviours that concern us and to respond in supportive ways."
It is offered twice on May 13, at 2 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.
Tele-workshops are learning sessions designed for family caregivers, but are also open to health-care providers. Participants can ask questions and share with others who are in similar situations.
Connecting to the sessions is as easy as phoning toll-free 1-866-994-7745, then entering pass code 1122333 when prompted, or visiting momentum.adobeconnect.com/alzheimerbc and entering as a Guest to listen to and view the presentation online at the same time.
For more information on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, which affect one in 11 Canadians over the age of 65, visit the Society website at www.alzheimerbc.org.