Birches' dementia education series shares tips for effective communication
On November 18, Gene Kuhn, Manager of Education and Outreach for the Alzheimer's Association, will deliver the third and final presentation in the Birches Assisted Living's fall Dementia Education Series. Kuhn's hour-long presentation titled "Effective Communication Strategies" will provide tips for connecting more meaningfully with loved ones living with dementia. The presentation begins at 7 p.m. in the Birches' main dining room, located at 215 55th St. Clarendon Hills.
The Alzheimer's Association reports that friends and family members of people with Alzheimer's disease provided an estimated 17.9 billion hours of unpaid care in 2014- a statistic which makes effective dementia communication strategies increasingly important. In his presentation, Kuhn will teach participants how to improve dementia communication as both a speaker and a listener. For example, in later stages of the disease, Kuhn says it's essential to become a masterful decoder of not only verbal but also behavioral messages.
"As the disease progresses, communication is severely impacted, so it's really going to be up to us to try to figure out what it is that they are trying to say," said Kuhn. "That communication can come through any of the five senses. We have to remember that communication can take a lot of different forms."
Kuhn will also teach participants how to make those with Alzheimer's feel more at ease and understood by taking an empathetic, feeling-focused approach to communication that meets them wherever they are on a given day.
"We want to join their reality, wherever that is, and however it may look. We also want to let them know that we understand what they are saying and focus on their feelings, not just the facts. We should let them know we are there to help," said Kuhn.
Kuhn has worked in the senior care industry for over 10 years and has a personal connection to Alzheimer's, as his grandmother is currently living with the disease and his wife's grandfather passed away from complications of the disease.
Gene Kuhn's presentation "Effective Communication Strategies" is free and open to the public. Registration is required. For more information or to register for the lecture, contact Robin Lacine at 630-789-1135.
The Birches Assisted Living in Clarendon Hills offers professional services to support the physical, social, intellectual and spiritual growth of the older adults who make it their home. The Birches offers purposeful programming and activities designed to promote a healthy aging lifestyle and a strong sense of community. For more information about The Birches, call 630-789-1135 or visit: birches.net.