The next Penn Memory Center is now registering caregivers for our 6-week  Caregiver Education Class (May 23 - June 27, 2012)

Caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia may experience feelings of sadness, anger, confusion, hopelessness, or frustration.  This course is designed help caregivers develop skills to better help their loved one – and themselves – cope with the many changes of living with dementia.

Unlike a typical support group, this course offers a six-week curriculum. While you will learn some specific techniques to better care for your loved one, this class stresses ways of coping with the personal and emotional challenges you face.

Topics include:

• Understanding and better managing behavior and emotions, especially conflicting, negative or distressing thoughts and feelings;
• Finding the personal “fuel” needed for caregiving through strategies including recognizing and sustaining pleasant events;
• Communicating effectively with family, friends, and others to access needed help;
• Understanding what’s ahead, and planning medical, legal, and financial next steps.

The next session starts Wednesday, May 23, 2012. Classes are held every Wednesday from May 23 – June 27 from 4pm – 6pm at the Penn Medicine’s Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA.

There is a $200 course enrollment fee. Some financial assistance may be available.

The group is open to anyone caring for someone with dementia of any stage, though much of the content of the program is geared toward individuals caring for someone who, while still living in the community, has had dementia for a few years and needs support with tasks such as managing money, medicines, cooking, or driving, and who may be showing changes in their personality and behavior.

Previous participants tell us the tips and tools they learned here are very helpful. They also indicate that the opportunity to interact with others going through experiences similar to their own was a more valuable outcome than they had anticipated before joining the class.

To register, or for more information, contact Melissa Livney, PsyD at 215-349-8209 or email . If you wish to register the course but need financial assistance, please ask Dr. Livney for a scholarship application.

Do you have a passion, talent, or skill that you would like to share with others?

Research tells us that cognitive stimulation and social engagement are key components to successful aging. The Penn Memory Center is pleased to provide a platform for our patients and community to come together and learn from one another. If you would like to volunteer to lead a book club or a discussion group, teach knitting, lead a yoga class, or share another skill with others at the Penn Memory Center, we are happy to host, promote and provide some administrative assistance to transform your interest into action.

Interested volunteers should contact Felicia Greenfield at 215-614-1828 or .

The Penn Memory Center is hiring!

To see our current open positions, visit our Career Opportunities page.

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