A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY for families, caregivers, and local businesses, to better assist loved ones, clients and customers who may have dementia, vision, or hearing impairment will be offered on Wednesday, September 12, in the Courthouse Election Room. Linda Roers, MBA, CDP, CADDCT, Geriatric Educator from the Montana Family Medicine Residency Program at Riverstone Health in Billings will be on hand to present.
WHAT: Dementia, Visual & Hearing Impairment Training
WHERE: Election Room
WHEN: Wednesday, September 12
Sessions: 8:30 - 10:00, 10:15-11:45, and 1:30 - 3:00 Will include Dementia Friendly training along with interactive learning stations giving participants the opportunity to experience six different visual impairments and hearing loss.
There will also be a session from 12 – 1 that Linda will be presenting just the Dementia Friendly information and answering questions for those who might want to attend over their lunch break.
The information presented and the interactive learning stations will educate attendees how to better assist people with visual and hearing impairments, as well as Dementia. Linda presented in June at Powder River Manor where the staff and a few community members participated.
Each of the participants was asked to give a few comments about their experience and how the impairments might affect their daily lives, here a few: “I have a better understanding of how I could help those with visual impairments .” “I had a very difficult time completing the tasks.” “I would no longer be able to work at my present job.” “I would have to have assistance with many of my daily activities.” “I lost my balance.” “I wouldn’t want to go out much, things were confusing and I made a lot of mistakes.”
Linda also has a Geriatric Simulation Suit that can be worn by participants. The suit helps to represent not only visual impairments and hearing impairments, but the loss of mobility due to muscle loss and the affects of arthritis, the effects of tremors, the feeling of neuropathy, and impact on activities of daily living. Julie Riley attended the program at the Manor in June and she said, “It gives us a first-hand experience of aging and muscle loss. The training is truly eye-opening.”
If you have any questions or to sign up, please call or email Julie Russell at 406-853-3617 or [email protected].
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