Duke Dementia Family Support Program’s
Upcoming Support Group Dates
We’re still here for you! Our team is working remotely to offer education, consultation and support. So don’t hesitate to contact us by email or phone.
All of our support groups, with the exception of Memory Makers, are meeting using Zoom, where participants can connect by video or telephone on a smart phone, tablet, laptop or PC. We will email support group participants with details about meetings, including directions for using Zoom and increased frequency of monthly meetings. If you have not previously participated in a support group, but are interested in joining now, please contact the appropriate staff member listed below.
Grey Stone Care Partners: Tuesday, June 16th & July 7th at 10:30a.m., contact Lisa for info, 919-660-7508
Younger-Onset: Tuesday, June 9th & June 23rd at 7p.m., contact Janeli if joining for the first time, 919-660-7565
Daughters: Wednesday, June 3rd & June 17th at 12p.m., contact Bobbi for info, 919-660-7509
Evening Family Caregivers: Thursday, May 28th & June 11th at 6:30p.m., contact Natalie for info, 919-660-7542
While it’s preferred to meet face-to-face, we are grateful that technology allows us to continue to connect with each other.
Stay Well,
Bobbi, Lisa, Janeli & Natalie
Keep Reading (Below Activities) for Information on Living with Dementia During COVID-19
Staying Engaged While Social Distancing
In an effort to make your day a little brighter, we’ve started collecting activity ideas to do at home and are posting them on our website and Facebook page. We’re aiming for activities that will stimulate discussion, encourage reminiscing, get you moving, or simply bring joy. From links to concerts, museum tours or live dance classes; to directions for craft projects, instructions for memory boxes or conversation prompts, we hope to add some fun to your day.
Check back regularly for new ideas. Enjoy!
Bobbi, Lisa, Janeli and Natalie
Caregiver Connections: Educational Webinars
Managing Caregiver Stress
Caring for a family member living with dementia may be difficult in the best of times. The added anxiety and responsibilities of Covid-19 likely feel exhausting and overwhelming. Join this webinar to help regain some calm and learn about caregiver stress and how it affects the body, what self-care is and how it can it can work for you and practice some mindfulness exercises with Bryan.
Missed the event but want to watch the recorded presentation? Click here.
Old Time Radio
Listen to radio shows from the ’40s, 50s and ’60s. The archive includes favorites such as, “Gunsmoke,” Father Knows Best,” “Martin & Lewis,” and “Dragnet.” “Brought to you by America’s favorite coffee, Maxwell House — good to the last drop.”
Creative Care Gatherings with TimeSlips
You are invited to attend a 12 week, weekly virtual creative engagement gathering for people living with dementia, care partners, elders, community volunteers, advocates and all interested parties.
What: a calming and joyful 20-minute creative experience built around a poetic question with no wrong answer
When: Thursday, April 9 to June 25, 2020 at 10:30am
How: Follow this link https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpcuiorDIiHdGo0leTTLOl2lWD5JK8eDpB on your computer to register or call in by telephone to 1-312-626-6799 and use Webinar ID: 854 5102 9875#
Rissi Palmer Community Event
Did you miss the community event on 5/21? Don’t worry, click here to view the pre-recorded event fearing local artist Rissi Palmer. As Covid-19 continues to keep us physically distant, our program wanted to create an event that brought folks together during these challenging times and to united us as we heard some familiar tunes, we hope you enjoy!
The Flower Supermoon in Pictures
In case you missed last week’s supermoon, or even if you saw it, check out these amazing photos of the moon when it was closest to earth. This full moon of May, also called a Flower Moon, was the last supermoon of 2020. Talk with your family member about other supermoons or times when you or they spent some time moongazing.
Pilates & Yoga for Parkinson’s (or anyone else) – Movement While Sitting in a Chair
Poe Wellness Solutions and The Parkinson’s Movement Initiative have very generously created Pilates and yoga for Parkinson’s videos. Visit the webpage for the videos here. Thanks to Jessica Shurer, LCSW for sharing this resource.
Hang Out With Some Elephants
You’re watching the live cam at San Diego Zoo. Be sure to scroll below the video to be introduced to the herd — from Kaia, who was born in 2018 weighing 281 pounds, to Swazi, the dominant female in the herd who weighs a whopping 6,800 pounds.
Raleigh Laugh Line
Raleigh Parks & Recreation has created an easy way for folks to enjoy a laugh. Each day, by calling 919-996-2759, you can hear a new joke. Jokes are family friendly and free!
Durham Medical Orchestra
Duke’s Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant leads health care professionals and students—from their homes across Durham County—in a performance of a new piece by Durham composer Steven Bryant.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Tune into a webcam and be delighted by the antics of the sea otters or mellow out to the hypnotic drifting of the jellies.
Music for Seniors – Sing-along Favorites with Shawn Pody
As he sings some Elvis Presley, a little Johnny Cash and some well-known gospel songs. Music for Seniors connects Nashville-area musicians with older adults through live and interactive music programs designed to engage, entertain and educate.
All Aboard!
Craft Activities
Engage your loved one’s creative side by making simple crafts together. Each activity comes with a video demonstration and suggestions about how to guide loved ones living with early, moderate or late stage dementia.
Go4Life
Go4Life from the National Institute on Aging at NIH, offers workout videos to help you fit exercise and physical activity into your daily life. Great options during the pandemic or anytime!
Some Good News
John Krasinski, starred in The Office as Jim, offers a different twist on the news. He is telling Some Good News on Facebook and his YouTube channel! This is a news channel we can all endorse!
Creative Care Gatherings with TimeSlips
You are invited to attend a 12 week, weekly virtual creative engagement gathering for people living with dementia, care partners, elders, community volunteers, advocates and all interested parties.
What: a calming and joyful 20-minute creative experience built around a poetic question with no wrong answer
When: Thursday, April 9 to June 25, 2020 at 10:30am
How: Follow this link https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpcuiorDIiHdGo0leTTLOl2lWD5JK8eDpB on your computer to
register or call in by telephone to 1-312-626-6799 and use Webinar ID: 854 5102 9875#
WEBINAR: Engagement in a Time of Quarantine Part I & II
This webinar is part of a newly-developing series from the TimeSlips Creative Storytelling team. Join MacArthur Fellow and TimeSlips Founder/President Anne Basting, PhD., as she shares additional avenues to connect while observing social distancing.
Click on the link to see Part I: https://vimeo.com/401431835
Click on the link to see Part II: https://youtu.be/0AJEV0Tzf1s
Carolina Ballet Performances
The Carolina Ballet is sharing different past performances each week. Enjoy!
Blast Off!
Browse NASA’s Image and Video Library for recent, historic and the most popular images, audio files and videos. The search feature allows you to easily find favorites, such as the flight of Apollo 11 — the first Moon landing in 1969.
Virtual ‘Love Sweet Love’ From Quarantined Berklee College of Music Students
Check out this recent video performance of the Burt Bacharach and Hal David song “What the World Needs Now” by students at Berklee College of Music that has gone viral.
A Kaleidoscope of Orchids
Enjoy this 21-minute virtual tour of the New York Botanical Garden’s Orchid Show. The tour features spectacular colors, soothing music and explanations from the Garden’s senior orchid curator.
Get Out Your Dancing Shoes
Create a Memory Box
A memory or rummage box can help your older adult feel connected to their past career and previous hobbies.
Get any kind of box and fill it with things they would have used at work, copies of photos and non-important keepsakes, or objects from hobbies.
If the person used to do handy work, put nuts, bolts, pvc pipe pieces and fittings, a piece of wood (no splinters), fine grit sandpaper, and twine in their box.
This can work for any type of job or hobby, just be creative about finding objects that will be safe to handle.
From: https://dailycaring.com/activities-for-people-with-dementia-10-fun-no-fail-ideas/
To learn more about the benefits of memory boxes, along with tips for making them, read this article.
Living With Dementia During COVID-19
Talking To a Parent with Dementia Who Is In Lock Down Due to Covid-19
In this video dementia expert Teepa Snow uses role play to explain what to tell your parent about why you cannot visit right now. Thanks to care partner Louise K. for bringing this video to our attention.
As COVID-19 Lurks, Families Are Locked Out Of Nursing Homes. Is It Safe Inside?
“Families are beset by fear and anxiety as COVID-19 makes inroads at nursing homes across the country, threatening the lives of vulnerable older adults.” Read what experts suggest families can do in this article, and be sure to check out the decision aid toward the end of the article.
Seniors with COVID-19 Show Unusual Symptoms
Doctors Say Brief helpful explanation of why older adults are at greater risk from COVID-19, and why it’s important to be alert to and seek medical evaluation for common but atypical early symptoms.
COVID-19, Alzheimer’s and Dementia: What You Need to Know
Resources and tips about the coronavirus pandemic for people living with dementia, caregivers, and families from the Alzheimer’s Association
Caregiving and Coronavirus: Tips for Caregivers
An easy-to-read guide on how to plan and prepare for infection.
Balancing Work and Elder Care Through the Coronavirus Crisis
Helpful tips for those who are juggling work and elder care in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.
How to Support Older Relatives During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Cathleen Colón-Emeric, MD, chief of Duke’s Division of Geriatrics offers advice about important conversations and practical strategies for supporting older family members during COVID-19. And check out the side-bar for some suggestions for activities from our team.
