JOIN US TUESDAY, SEPT 20 AT 1PM EST

The Decoding Dementia Gathering

Linked Senior, Activity Connection, the National Association of Activity Professionals (NAAP), and the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP) are proud to partner and provide quarterly educational #ActivitiesStrong virtual gatherings. Building on the success of past #ActivitiesStrong Gatherings, this free, half day virtual event will provide attendees with resources and important strategies for improving their dementia care programming so that it is more meaningful for residents. The event will bring together the country’s leading resident engagement experts who will focus on the latest trends in care, highlight exclusive data and share best practices to help senior living communities shape the future of resident engagement. Join us for this #ActivitiesStrong event to learn about the current state of resident engagement, discover best practices and understand what kind of long lasting change we can make that will impact how we build person-centered experiences for older adults.

Earn up to 3 Free NAB, NCCAP, NCCDP and/or NCTRC CEU credits!

Summit Objectives

Attendees will be able to:

Understand how best practices like LEGO Serious Play can help the life enrichment department meaningfully engage residents living with dementia
Enable interdisciplinary collaboration on your team by learning how one community started and maintained a dementia inclusive community
Learn about specific examples of person-directed approaches to meaningful resident engagement – all aimed at training and supporting team members

SESSION 1: 1:00PM-2:00PM EST

Dementia and LEGO Serious Play for Improved Engagement

This session will explore the benefits of LEGO Serious Play for engaging and communicating with older adults experiencing cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s disease. Learn what LEGO Serious Play is and how it can be used both to uncover memories in the early and middle stages and to keep participants meaningfully engaged with their eyes, hands and mind in the late stages. Loretta and her Mom Doris had been life-long LEGO users and when she was diagnosed with dementia in 2006, LEGO bricks provided the means Loretta used to keep Doris focused, engaged and anxiety-free for the entire 16 years of her disease, including the day of her death on Jan 31, 2022.

Learning Objectives

Define what the LEGO Serious Play methodology is
Explain how it can be used to keep older adults meaningfully engaged
Understand the types of LEGO bricks that work best for each state of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

Loretta Veney

Inspirational Speaker and Trainer,
Owner and Principal Consultant at Superior Training Solutions

BREAK: 2:00PM-2:30PM EST

Dr. Jennifer Stelter, Psy.D., CDP, CADDCT, CCTP

Chief Engagement Officer, Resident Engagement Institute,
Director of Product Research, Linked Senior

SESSION 2: 2:30PM-3:30PM EST

Dementia Inclusivity: Our Journey

Today, it is vital that we understand the individuality of those that we serve who are living with dementia. Witness how one community is paving their own path and walking together across all disciplines to break stigma, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, promote meaningful resident engagement and build a dementia inclusive community.

Learning Objectives

Define dementia inclusivity and discuss its vital importance. This includes the why, the thought process, who and the value of everyone.
Identify how to start and maintain a dementia inclusive community. This includes the buy in and goals.
Recognize valuable tools and resources to promote meaningful resident engagement and learn about their outcomes and the impact on the greater communit

Donielle Palmer

Director of Resident Services
Westminster Canterbury Shenandoah Valley

Abby D’Arcangelis, MT-BC

Music Therapist
Westminster Canterbury Shenandoah Valley

BREAK: 3:30PM-4:00PM EST

Kate Fassbender

Wally Cox

SESSION 3: 4:00PM-5:00PM EST

The Person Comes First- Learning and Education for Those Who Work with People with Dementia

People living with dementia live in all settings—from their own home within the greater community to assisted living, or nursing home communities. Regardless of setting, team members have an opportunity to foster a sense of autonomy, belonging, and growth among elders living with dementia. Together we’ll explore some foundational ideas and specific examples of person-directed approaches to meaningful resident engagement—all aimed at training and supporting team members.

Learning Objectives

Understand foundational concepts like person-directedness, intersectionality, and a strengths-based approach in the context of supporting and meaningfully engaging individuals living with dementia.
Expand your thinking about ways to support team members who are working with people living with dementia, through learning and education.
Explore Christian Living Communities’ innovative Rhythms approach to supporting people with dementia and consider ways to apply the principles within your daily work.