Due to the rapid rate of people being diagnosed with dementia (or one of its many types), families and caregivers of these individuals are seeking guidance and assistance to better cope with this unpredictable disease. The road to caring for someone like this is often not clear or smooth, making life overwhelming and all-consuming. Equip those family members and caregivers with the proper navigational tools to help them traverse this difficult terrain. With Dr. Conrad Christensen as your guide, you can help your clients face and combat the most turbulent issues associated with Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia using cutting-edge research, a “Mind Map of the Territory,” and behavioral interventions that work. Dr. Christensen’s approach is based on the most up-to-date research backed up by clinical care, care giving, and family support.

What You Will Learn  

• Discuss the normal aging brain, what goes wrong, and research - depicting Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia in today’s world
• Examine the neurobiological brain disease parameters, supporting research, and complexities of co-existing dementias
• Highlight treatment issues, emergent situations, and behavioral interventions
• Distinguish when AD and DLB co-exist in the same person
• Explain the diagnostic criteria of each dementia syndrome
• Develop a plan of prevention, early detection, and proactive programs for your clients
• Identify and provide samples to each participant – screening instruments that can be used in daily clinical practices to aid diagnoses and intake assessments

Who Should Attend

• Psychologists
• Counselors
• Social Workers
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
• Psychiatric Nurses
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Case Managers
• Nursing Home Administrators
• Pastoral Counselors

Course Content

THE NORMAL AGING BRAIN

• Overarching domains of human function
  • Intelligence – the foundation of the “house”
  • Normal cognition?
  • Memory
• Structural anatomy of the human brain
  • Nervous system
  • Neurotransmitters
  • Brain stem

NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES

• Alzheimer’s dementia – 1 of 100+ dementias
• People with dementia lose intellectual abilities
• Cognitive loss varies in differing dementias
  • Memory
  • Executive function
  • Judgment
  • Attention
  • Language
• Foundational concepts including communication

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE (AD)

• Prevalence – research findings
• Disease process – what goes wrong?
• Alzheimer’s syndrome – diagnostic criteria DMS-5^® oriented
• Intake assessment/symptoms/diagnosis: case example(s)
• Early markers of AD

LEWY BODY DEMENTIA (DLB)

• Prevalence – research findings
• Disease process – what goes wrong?
• Lewy Body Dementia – diagnostic criteria DSM-5^® oriented
• Intake assessment/symptoms/diagnosis: case example(s)
• Early markers DLB

UNIQUE PROBLEMS FAMILY & CAREGIVERS FACE

• Research including caregiver burden/treatment issues
• Contrasting differences/highlighting complications in co-existing dementias
• Five challenging problems when AD & DLB co-exist in the same person
• Communication issues within family and treatment units

TREATMENT ISSUES COMPLICATED BY “CO-EXISTING” DEMENTIAS

• Research
• 3-legged stool – a balancing act
• Psychotic ideation/Parkinsonisms/fluctuating cognitions
• ANS involvement – sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system
  • Swallowing
  • Blood pressure
  • Digestion/motility
  • Temperature regulations
• Coping with:
  • Neuroleptic sensitivity
  • Wandering
  • Retropulsion
  • Anxiety
  • Agitation
  • And more

EMPATHIC LISTENING/RESPONDING

PREVENTION – PROACTIVE APPROACH

Testimonials

Dr. Christensen presented this poignant research seminar to our staff. He possesses extensive knowledge of Lewy body dementia resulting from over 10 years of research as a caregiver.

Marilyn-Seidl-Kramer, Director of Marshfield Area Respite Care Center

Conrad is a knowledgeable, well-spoken, patient man who can help counselors and other professionals develop additional skills for their practice.

Kelly Schultz, LPC, CSAC

I found Dr. Christensen’s seminar informative; it helped me fill in a lot of blanks I never understood. He helped my family better understand the ailments connected with Lewy body dementia.

Nick Arnoldy, CIC