Alzheimer's Association Presents South West Michigan’s Premier Caregiver Conference

Posted: Aug 22, 2012 at 11:15 AM [Aug 22, 2012]

The Alzheimer’s Association, Michigan Great Lakes Chapter in partnership with Keynote Speaker Sponsor Absolute Homecare and Medical Staffing are pleased to present the Schreiber Caregiver Conference onTuesday, October 16 at Western Michigan University’s Fetzer Center in Kalamazoo.  This conference is being held in memory of Dr. Richard Seyfarth Schreiber.  We invite professionals, family caregivers and individuals seeking quality dementia education.  

Mary Ellen Geist, author of Measure of the Heart: A Father’s Alzheimer’s, A Daughter’s Return, will deliver the keynote address titled “The Heart of the Matter”.  Mary Ellen is a graduate of Kalamazoo College and a former broadcast journalist of 20 years.  When her father’s Alzheimer’s disease became too much for her mother to shoulder alone, she gave up her career as a CBS Radio anchor in New York toreturn to her childhood home in Northern Michigan.  Her insightful book has served as a source of inspiration for millions of caregivers. 

Conference sessions will be led by professionals in the dementia care field and will feature presentations on topics including crisis inpatient care, arts, sexuality and intimacy, research, end of life care, communication challenges and legal issues.  A complete list of presentation topics is available online at www.alz.org/mglc.  The conference offers 4 approved CEU credits for Social Work, and a CEU application has been submitted for Nursing. 

Complimentary respite services for eligible participants will be available during the conference as well as shuttle service for participants to and from Oakland Centre courtesy of the Adult Day Services.  Advance registration is required by October 5, and space is limited so early registration is encouraged.  Participants must call to register for respite services at 269.373.3200.

Early bird registration for professionals is $125 before September 16 and then will increase to $155.  Student registration is $50 (does not include CEU).  Family caregiver registration is $20 (scholarships are available).  All registration fees include a continental breakfast and lunch.  For more information or to register, please visitwww.alz.org/mglc or call 269.387.4174.