I am excited to be presenting at the Pierce County Alzheimer’s Conference!

Individuals, family members, and caregivers grappling with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias are invited to the 2022 Pierce County Alzheimer’s Disease Conference. The conference will be held live in-person this year at Rainier View Christian Church on Saturday, October 1. The church is located at 12305 Spanaway Loop Road South, Tacoma, WA 98444. Doors open at 8am for visiting vendor resource tables then the Conference program goes from 8:45am to 1pm. Pierce County Human Services sponsors this conference in partnership with the Health Care Providers Council of Pierce County. The theme of this year’s conference is “Busting the Myths and Misinformation of Dementia”. This conference is free and open to the public, but attendees must register in advance online at the Pierce County ADRC website www.pierceadrc.org or by calling 253-798-4600. Caregivers attending can request 1.5 hours of Continuing Education credits during the online registration process.

This 2022 conference has adopted the theme of “Busting the Myths and Misinformation of Dementia” to bring new guidance to those who live with the disease in their daily lives, whether they are family members, caregivers, care receivers, or adult care supporters. This event will be live in-person and will feature two outstanding speakers, a panel discussion, and plenty of time for resource vendor interaction. Attendees will be able to ask questions of the speakers, panelists, and resource vendors. The two scheduled speakers at the conference (subject to change) are Laura Wayman (renowned author of the book A Loving Approach To Dementia Care and recognized as the Dementia Whisperer) and John Finke, Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Science, University of Washington Tacoma). More info on Laura at https://laurawayman.com and more info on John at https://works.bepress.com/john_finke/ .

“Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic has created incredibly challenging times for families caring for loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementias,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources manager. “Now more than ever they need support, information and resources. Fortunately, the 2022 Pierce County Alzheimer’s Conference returns to a live in-person format to offer expert advice, vendor resources, and time for family caregivers to share their stories about living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias day in and day out.”

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias can cause cognitive impairment including memory loss, frequently repeating the same questions or stories, not recognizing familiar people and places, having trouble exercising judgment, changes in mood or behavior, wandering, and difficulty carrying out tasks, such as dressing properly or keeping track of monthly bills. The information provided at the 2022 Pierce County Alzheimer’s Conference will apply to all forms of dementia including Alzheimer’s Disease.

For more information, call the Aging and Disability Resource Center at 253-798-4600 or 800-562-0332.