UW-Led Wyoming Dementia Together Program to Benefit from Texas Fundraiser

By chance, a Texas A&M University student recently learned of the services offered by the Wyoming Dementia Together (WDT) Caregiver Network -- a statewide, nonprofit caregiver program operating through the University of Wyoming’s Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA).

Jackson Hames, a biomedical science major, last year learned about WDT when he attended a screening of the Wyoming PBS special “A State of Mind -- The Caregivers” in Riverton. The Wyoming PBS series, exploring the mental health crisis in Wyoming, featured many experts, including several members of WyCOA’s WDT Caregiver Network.

To help WDT’s program, Hames has organized a “Caregiver Carwash” at Sevcik's Service Center Sunday, May 4, from 1-5 p.m. Hames says everyone is welcome, and cold drinks and snacks will be provided. Cash will be accepted, and donations can be made through Venmo to @Caregiver-Carwash.

“I am spearheading this fundraiser to provide support for rural dementia caregivers. Many primary caregivers of those with dementia have a very difficult time balancing their own needs with the needs of their care recipient,” Hames says. “With an aging population, these problems are becoming more prevalent, especially to those who live rurally and may not have access to as many resources, friends or medical care. Wyoming Dementia Together helps enable rural caregivers and provides them with social support, home therapy and wellness checkups.”

WDT meets by Zoom call every other Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. The free programs feature guest speakers and allow time for interaction from those who attend online. WDT includes dementia care professionals, licensed clinical social workers, occupational therapists and caregivers themselves. WDT began meeting in fall 2020 and has been offering online programming help.

Future spring and summer WDT programs offered every other Wednesday will feature “Care Support and Circle of Care,” May 7; “Long Distance Caring,” May 21; “Navigating Nutrition and Mealtime,” June 4; “Dementia Continuum of Care: Our Options,” June 18; “Dementia Research Update,” July 30; “Palliative and Hospice Care,” Aug. 13; and “Enlightened Communication with My Loved One,” Aug. 27.

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.