UW-Led Program Celebrates Caregivers and Families of Loved Ones Living With Dementia

This month, Wyoming Dementia Together -- a statewide educational collaboration operating through the University of Wyoming’s Center on Aging (WyCOA) -- marks two years of assisting caregivers and families of loved ones living with dementia.

The Wyoming Dementia Together (WDT) professional support team includes licensed clinical social workers, physical and occupational therapists, dementia care professionals and caregivers. WDT was organized in fall 2020 and has been offering online programming help twice each month.

“We are excited to have assembled such a talented team,” says Sabine Schenck, a senior project coordinator with WyCOA. “The concept of Wyoming Dementia Together was in the works for several years before it all came together. We have known, for some time, that help is greatly needed for caregivers and their families, and we believe our staff perfectly lines up with our mission statement and our vision.”

The mission statement reads, “We are a community of experienced professionals who partner with caregivers to provide confidential information and support free of cost to those whose loved ones are living with dementia.” And the WDT’s vision is to “create a vibrant, active community that touches every caregiver in Wyoming in order to harness personal strengths and local resources to ultimately provide the best care possible for those living with dementia.”

WDT meets through Zoom every other week throughout the year. The programs feature a guest speaker and allow time for interaction from attendees online throughout Wyoming and the greater Rocky Mountain region.

Previous programs have covered subject matter such as “Being a Care Partner and Advocate,” “Dementia and Driving,” “Taking Vital Signs: The Good, Bad and Basics,” “Building Caregiver Confidence,” “End of Life Care” and “Honoring Legacy: The Gift of a Lifetime.”

“We hope caregivers will join us on our calls, not just to gain valuable help and information, but also to realize they’re not alone in their journey,” Schenck says.

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