Learning Objectives

• Describe the impact of healthy dependence on health and well-being.

• List ways to negotiate the need for help and the desire for independence in older persons.

• Discuss the importance of life histories in shaping self-perceptions of dependency and the implications for service delivery.

Description

Finding an optimal balance between a reliance on others and the desire for independence is a fundamental task across the lifespan and can be particularly challenging for older people.

Using the growing body of research on interpersonal dependency, participants explore the idea of healthy dependence and its impact on health and well-being.

Dr Wehry demonstrates from personal experience (a fall, a fracture, a surgery) how radical acceptance of the need for help actually accelerates recovery, enabling her to participate in a long-planned, month-long medical pilgrimage in the Himalayas just weeks after surgery.

Better understanding of the complex nature of interpersonal dependency and autonomy has implications for public policy, for delivery of social services, for health care systems, and for successful transitions by individuals.

Learning Objectives

• Distinguish among the various types of psychotropic medications including uses, benefits, and risks.

• Name the key features of commonly encountered mental health disorders.

• Express greater comfort in supporting recovery in residents with behavioral health issues.

Description

In this presentation, participants acquire a framework and a language for understanding and responding to frequently encountered disruptions in thinking, feeling and behaving -- commonly referred to as mental or behavioral health disorders.

How are these disorders similar to and different from the disruptions experienced by residents with Alzheimer’s and related dementias? What do we mean by the unmet needs model for understanding behavioral expressions of distress?

The session includes a quick review of commonly encountered diagnoses and therapies, and a deeper dive into what to look for on move-in, when to refer, when to consider move-out, and practical tips for person-centered responses to resident distress, including validation techniques.

Learning Objectives

• Describe risk factors for depression

• Discuss a public health approach to responding to depression

• List three strategies you can take

Description

Depression is common, overlooked, devastating, treatable, preventable and a significant public health issue. Dr Wehry convincingly argues for universal screening, appropriate treatment and prevention programs.

Learning Objectives

• List reasons individuals may not want to disclose a diagnosis

• Discuss hesitations to disclosing that may be unique to Alzheimer's Disease

• Describe what is meant by a person-centered approach in dementia

Description

For many individuals, sharing their diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can be frightening and overwhelming. Ageism, fear of memory loss, loss of self, and assumptions about the disease are among the many factors that stigmatize persons living with Alzheimer's.

This presentation invites participants to think anew about Alzheimer's disease and to discuss it in ways that recognize a person's strengths, dignity, and stories. The use of positive language combined with emphasizing what a person is still able to do versus what he or she can no longer do, can have a significant positive impact on an individual’s quality of life. Attendees will gain a better understanding on how to support the “personhood” of individuals living with dementia.

Learning Objectives

• Figure out what a resident’s behavior means

• Respond appropriately to a person's communication

• Avoid unnecessary drugs

Description

Everyone knows behaviors may express unmet needs -- and that medications may harm as well as heal. But not everyone knows what to do for residents in distress.

With humor, data and common sense, Dr Wehry presents up-to-date interventions that work. What does a behavior mean? In this presentation, participants discover the question to the answer.

Learning Objectives

• Describe care from the "outside in" and "inside out"

• Compare and contrast both the "unmet needs" and the medical model for meeting challenging behaviors

• Implement practices that support a resident's personhood

Description

The world of long-term care has changed. Individualized, person-directed care is largely replacing institutional provider-directed care. A greater emphasis on home-like environments is replacing a purely medical model. And quality of life concerns are becoming equal in importance to quality of care issues.

As long term care moves to person-centered care, there is an increased focus on the strengths, wants, needs and personal goals of the individual, in addition to the disability or health care need.

With a nod to Maya Angelou, Dr Wehry shows us how to do better now that we know better.

Learning Objectives

• Define autonomy, independence, self-efficacy

• Discuss diminished capacity

• Describe supported decision-making

Description

Few issues are more troubling than the fear of loss of self-determination. Using actual stories, Dr Wehry explores the challenges individuals and families face in the context of diminished decision-making capacity and increasing needs for help.