Please register and come out to join us for this FREE event! Tell your family and friends. Anyone who is a caregiver for a loved one should be present.
Dr. Paula Duren at the Hampton University Ministers' Conference, June 3-8, 2018 - presented by The Balm In Gilead, Inc.
Alzheimer's & African Americans with Dr P. on the Pod - May 30, 2018
If you miss it, you can take a listen here.
An Open Discussion and Support Event for Dementia Caregivers -- May 16, 2018
Paula Duren, PhD of Universal Dementia Caregivers and Sandy Adams, CFP® will be hosting this complimentary event presented by the Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Bring your experiences, questions and concerns. Presented by
Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2018, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Location: Bloomfield Township Public Library, 1099 Lone Pine Rd, Bloomfield Township, MI 48302
Sponsored by: Center for Financial Planning, Inc.
Upcoming Webinar: Carepartners' Passage through Dementia -- March 22, 2018
Are you caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia or do you know someone who is? If you are or you anticipate being in this situation at some point in the future, please join us for this informational and enlightening webinar to learn more about the disease, learn how to more effectively and respectfully care for those with the disease as it progresses, and how to make sure you care for yourself in the meantime.
Event: Thursday, March 22, 2018 from 1:00 to 1:45 pm
Speakers: Paula Duren PhD, Director, Universal Dementia Caregivers and Sandy Adams, CFP
To Register: http://www.centerfinplan.com/events/
Sponsored by: Center for Financial Planning, Inc.
Dementia and Legal Concerns Lunch & Learn -- Thursday, April 19
Caring for a loved one with dementia may require a crash course in law. Family members, caregivers – even the patient – must understand the legal terms and gather and complete the legal documents needed to handle finances, property, health decisions and more if the patient becomes incapacitated.
“Too many people wait until it's too late and there’s confusion,” says Duren. “Often, caregivers are uncertain and don’t know which legal documents need to be pulled, completed and signed.”
Universal Dementia Caregivers will host a free lunch and learn discussion: Dementia and Legal Concerns: What Legal Documents Do I Need to Pull Together as a Caregiver? to be held on Thursday, April 19, 2018 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Triumph Church East Campus, 2760 Grand Blvd., Detroit. Lunch is sponsored by Aetna.
At the lunch and learn, founder of Universal Dementia Caregivers, Paula Duren, PhD, will lead a discussion on the legal documents that must be signed and kept current, such as the Advanced Healthcare Directive, Power of Attorney for Financial Matters, Will, and Living Trust, and the consequences of ignoring this step. These documents, and sometimes others depending on the circumstances, are the most important papers to have signed and stored in a safe place.
Please RSVP by calling 248.509.4357 or send a note to: info@universaldementia.org.
"Your Health Matters" Free Lunch & Learn: Thursday, March 8, 2018
Caregivers commit their lives to others, often placing the needs of their loved ones with dementia ahead of their own.
Come join us for a free Lunch & Learn discussion about the difficulty of changing roles, the typical day of a caregiver and managing the stress of caring for a loved one with dementia.
Your Health Matters Lunch & Learn event will be held on March 8, 2018 from 11:30am to 1:00pm at the Triumph Church East Campus, 2760 Grand Blvd., Detroit.
Please RSVP by calling 248.509.4357 or send a note to: info@universaldementia.org.
Nothing Like Hearing Your Song: 10 Things You Should Know About the Benefits of Music Therapy for Dementia Patients
There's nothing like hearing your favorite song. It can remind you of younger years and fond memories.
A volunteer for a Detroit hospice agency for nearly 20 years, Velma Gocha often speaks of her "secret" methods used when visiting patients with dementia at nursing homes or in their own homes. The most effective is music. Sometimes she sings an old gospel hymn or plays music from a cell phone. She has witnessed patients open their eyes for the first time in weeks or hold a conversation after months of silence. For her, showing a little patience, and sharing a little music, works almost every time.
"Music transcends any issue or problem that may exist," said Gocha. "I've learned a lot of songs from the requests. Sometimes they may say, 'I don't know that song,' and then take it over. It's just another form of communication." Here are 10 things you should know about the benefits of music for dementia patients.
1. Provides avenue for social interaction between the patient and caregiver
2. It's a medium for verbal/non-verbal expression
3. Can help maintain cognitive and affective functioning
4. Music associated with positive memories will evoke a positive response
5. Use preferred music from late teens through early 30s
6. Try using an iPod or iPad with earphones
7. Lower keys (F3 to C5 for women and one octave lower for men)
8. Sheet music may be distracting. Only use when necessary.
9. Dancing allows intimacy between spouses or may be a fun exercise for your patient. Use precaution.
10. Be careful. Some patients may react adversely to loud noises
Music and Dementia Workshop: Feb. 15, 2018
Listening to or singing along to music can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with different types of dementia. Music can rekindle memories undamaged by the disease, and before you know it, your friend or family member is smiling and enjoying your visit. Research has found that music can relieve stress and reduce anxiety, depression, and agitation. Music can be beneficial to the caregiver as well.
Come join us for continental breakfast and snacks and a special workshop on the healing benefits of music for patients and loved ones with dementia. The event will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2018 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Bridging Communities Inc. (BCI). 6900 McGraw. To RSVP, call Lisa Knott at (313) 361-6377. Seats are limited, so call TODAY!
My Lights are Going Out - Stories on Dementia
Mom called saying she could not find her car. "Come help but don't tell anyone", she said. This happened several times before I accepted that mom had dementia. In talking with her, it was very apparent that she had been forgetting things for some time but had been working really hard to hide it. She begged me not to tell anyone and I started to cover for her, until one day she fell and broke her hip. Her dementia was getting worse. In a years time, mom died. She had no other illnesses. Sometimes I wondered, if I had forced her to get help sooner if she would have lived longer....
Dr. Paula Duren on Grief
The Senior Solution (Detroit Area Agency on Aging) - Hosted by Paul Bridgewater Featuring Dr. Paula Duren aired on June 25, 2016.
Dr. Paula Duren with more on Self Care for Caregivers
The Senior Solution (Detroit Area Agency on Aging) - Hosted by Paul Bridgewater Featuring Dr. Paula Duren aired on February 20, 2016.
Dr. Paula Duren on Hospital Stays
The Senior Solution (Detroit Area Agency on Aging) - Hosted by Paul Bridgewater Featuring Dr. Paula Duren aired on January 16, 2016.
Dr. Paula Duren on Thoughtful Gifts for Caregivers
The Senior Solution (Detroit Area Agency on Aging) - Hosted by Paul Bridgewater Featuring Dr. Paula Duren aired on December 19, 2015.
Dr. Paula Duren on the Importance of Self-Care while being a Caregiver
The Senior Solution (Detroit Area Agency on Aging) - Hosted by Paul Bridgewater Featuring Dr. Paula Duren aired on November 7, 2015