UW’s Wyoming Dementia Together Series Begins March 27

Wyoming Dementia Together (WDT), a statewide nonprofit caregiver network offered through the University of Wyoming’s Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA), will offer a variety of informative discussions focused on dementia care this spring.

“Dementias and Diagnosis,” focusing on different types of dementia and the importance of early diagnosis, will be the first topic in the series at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 27. The program will be presented by Katherine Kitchen Andren, a University of Utah neuropsychologist who specializes in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

“It’s vitally important that caregivers learn of the different types of dementia to be better able to provide care,” Kitchen Andren says. “Each type is unique and brings on different challenges. The earlier the medical diagnosis is made, the sooner the appropriate care can begin.”

WDT meets by Zoom call every other Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. throughout the year. Programs feature guest speakers and allow time for interaction from those who attend online. Preregistration is required; the Zoom link to each program will be provided by email.

WDT includes dementia care professionals, licensed clinical social workers, physical and occupational therapists, and caregivers themselves. WDT began meeting in fall 2020 and has since been offering online programming assistance.

Other WDT programs featured through the spring and summer are titled “Through the Eyes of Dementia,” April 10; “Dignity in Dementia Care,” April 24; “Care Partner Companions: Grief, Loss, Sorrow,” May 8; “Past Trauma and Dementia,” May 22; “Dementia Specific Technology: Safety and Adaptation,” June 5; and “Dementia Continuum of Care Options,” June 19.

For information about registering for Zoom calls and the other free services offered by WDT, call WyCOA at (307) 766-2829 or email wycoa@uwyo.edu.

For more information, go to the WDT Caregiver Network website.