Personal Values Topic of Aug. 26 Wyoming Dementia Together Program

It’s a delicate process to care for a loved one living with dementia, especially when it comes to incorporating personal values and preferences into the daily care plan. It’s also important to guide caregivers with compassion, understanding and practical tools. That is the message to be shared in the next program from Wyoming Dementia Together (WDT).

The program, titled “The Caregiver Compass: Navigating Dementia Care Through Values and Preferences,” will be presented by Zoom call Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 10:30 a.m. Dani Guerttman, of Casper, a dementia specialist and executive director of Wyoming Dementia Care, will co-facilitate the discussion along with Scott Veatch, a former spousal caregiver.

“When caring for a loved one living with dementia, it’s important to honor what matters most to them,” Guerttman says. “We’ll be discussing ways the caregiver can incorporate these values into their daily care routine.”

“I was caregiver for my wife for fifteen years and I’ll be sharing some personal stories of my caregiver journey,” Veatch says.

WDT, which offers support services to those caring for people living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, operates under the direction of the University of Wyoming Center on Aging. The group provides virtual informational programs every other Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Programs feature guest speakers and allow time for interaction from those who attend online. WDT support staff members include dementia care professionals, licensed clinical social workers, physical and occupational therapists, and caregivers themselves.

Caregivers from throughout Wyoming and surrounding states have benefited.

Future WDT program topics will feature “Legacy Leaving: Listening with Heart and Purpose,” Sept. 9; “Aging Brain Care: From Evaluation to Emerging Treatment Options,” Sept. 23; and “Managing Finances in Dementia Care: Support for Caregivers and Loved Ones,” Oct. 7. More information is available online here.

For information regarding registration for these online Zoom calls and the other free services offered by WDT, call the Wyoming Center on Aging at (307) 766-2829 or email wycoa@uwyo.edu.