If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis, free help is immediately available.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, via phone, text and online chat, offering people compassionate care and support from trained crisis counselors for individuals, families or their loved ones. One does not have to be suicidal to call 988 but can reach out when experiencing any behavioral health crisis. 988 call services are available in English and Spanish, along with interpretation services in more than 150 languages. Texting 988 and online chat are currently available only in English. Veterans and military service members can call 988 and press “1” to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line.

The University of Washington Dementia Palliative Education Network and the WA State Dementia Action Collaborative have created a new free toolkit for family/friend care partners of people living with dementia. 
 
The goal of this toolkit is to: 

• Explain how to form a working partnership with healthcare providers
• Show hot to organize, streamline tasks, and communicate about the care needs of the person living with dementia 
• Reduce chances of avoidable care transitions 

 
The toolkit includes:

• Easy-to-navigate narrated presentation
• Video scenario demonstrations 
• Care, medication, and appointment log sheets 

 
For more information about the toolkit, click here. To view the flyer, click the button below.

September 14, 2022 through November 2, 2022 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST | Online - FREE
 
The Dementia Information Series is a comprehensive 8-week series on Wednesday evenings is designed for families who are caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. You can understand the disease, learn how it affects your relative, how to access support in the home and community, how to cope, and how to communicate.
 
Register as early as possible to reserve a spot for this popular education event.
 
To register for this event, click the button below.

September 7, 2022 | 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM PST | Online
 
This event aims to explain how dementia can affect language and communication. There will be an opportunity to explore the emotional impact of a breakdown in communication / relationships for a carer and the person with dementia and to identify strategies to help establish effective and meaningful interactions.
 
This session is for you if:

• you would like to gain a better understanding of how communication can be affected for a person with dementia
• you would like to learn about different strategies to support a persons ability to communicate and understand
• you want to spend time with experienced healthcare professionals who will answer your questions in a safe, supportive environment
• you would like to meet other people who are taking care of a friend or family member with dementia in a similar situation

 
To register for this event, click the button below.

September 7, 2022 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST | Online
 
Knowing the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease is important for early detection and diagnosis. Family members often are the first to notice the signs, but may struggle on how to approach their loved one about scheduling an appointment with their doctor. Once they do broach the subject, they may be met with resistance or denial. If a diagnosis is received, the individual and their family may be at a loss for what do next and what to expect for their loved one’s care needs. As professionals, it is important to help older adults and their families navigate life after a dementia diagnosis by providing them with useful information and support. Join this webinar during World Alzheimer’s Month to learn more about what to do next after a dementia diagnosis, what changes to expect and how to best care for someone living with dementia.
 
Participants in this webinar will be able to:

• Review the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and the importance of diagnosis
• Discuss what to expect after a diagnosis and what changes are likely to occur
• Learn communication strategies and care tips to best support the individual
• Discover resources for professionals and families for diagnosis, care and support

 
To register for this event, click the button below.

Oslo neurosurgeon Christer Mjåset, vice president of the Norwegian Medical Association, suggests 4 questions that we should pose to our doctors the next time they recommend a medication, procedure, test, treatment or surgery.

• Is this really necessary?
• What are the risks?
• Are there other options?
  
• What happens if I don’t do anything?

Oregon Care Partners' featured webinar this week is "How Communication Influences Care in the Non-Dementia Adult Population" starting Tuesday, July 19 at 5:30 pm. Join this webinar to learn how your personal communication style impacts interactions and outcomes with the person in your care and gain strategies to create more positive results.

July 14, 2022 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 PM PST | Online
 
Hosted by Michigan State University, this interactive workshop for parents and those who provide care for young children is designed to help adults increase their knowledge about anger and strong emotion in young children and the developmental stages of social emotional self-control. Parents and caregivers will learn what anger is and what triggers anger, explore ways to practice and reinforce positive communication skills, and learn methods of incorporating children’s literature into the process of teaching problem solving skills.
 
Facilitator: Georgina Guzman, perrygeo@msu.edu.
 
This workshop is free.
 
Attendees must register by July 13. Click the button below to do so.