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First Annual Caregiver Empowerment Conference

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Event Details:

A first in southwestern Ohio, the Caregiver Empowerment Conference will include something for every type of caregiver.  Caregivers come in many shapes and sizes: nurses, family members, social workers, nursing home administrators, friends, recreational therapists and neighbors.  It doesn't matter if you're a professional caregiver or a son or daughter taking care of an aging parent -- you have important work to do.  The First Annual Caregiver Empowerment Conference was designed with you in mind. 

At this conference you can:

• Get information and tips to help you balance the ups and downs of caregiving
• Learn what it means to "age in place" and the impact that can have on our community
• Learn knew activities to help improve your care recipient's quality of life
• Hear from area experts on topics including safety, dementia, Alzheimer's, emergency preparedness, long-term care and estate planning,nutrition, 
• Discover community resources that can help you be a better caregiver; learn  how to connect to those resources
• Learn how to better communicate your feelings and needs to other family members and health care professionals

Click here for a detailed conference agenda and workshop schedule.

Podcast: Click here to listen to Council on Aging's Arlene de Silva and Gene McClory of Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio talk about the Caregiver Empowerment Conference.

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Registration fees

Professionals earning CEUs^*

• 1 day $100 (no CEUs will be earned)
  
• 2 day $175 (plus $50 CEU fee for 11 CEUs)
  

In order to receive CEUs, you must attend both days of the conference. You will earn 11 CEUs.  A $50 CEU processing fee will be charged, in addition to the two-day conference fee.

• 1 day $30
• 2 day $60

^*Application has been made for Continuing Education Units for Nurses, Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Nursing Home Administrators, recreational therapists and Activity Professionals in Ohio and Kentucky.

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Keynote Speakers

Dr. Barry Bittman
Barry Bittman, MD is a neurologist, author, international speaker, award-winning producer/director and inventor. As CEO and Medical Director of the Mind-Body Wellness Center, a comprehensive, interdisciplinary outpatient medical facility in Meadville, PA., Dr. Bittman has pioneered a new paradigm for treating the whole person. Based upon extensive research, he developed Insights for Living Beyond Cancer with Bernie Siegel, MD, a program that integrates the power of mind, body and spirit with conventional medical care. Dr. Bittman has also created similar programs for individuals facing the challenges of asthma, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes.

Lela Knox Shanks
When the doctors told Lela Shanks that Alzheimer's would render her husband totally helpless, she was given no instructions on how to manage his disease at home. It was understood that Alzheimer's patients were destined for institutional care. Undaunted, she cared for him at home for the next 13 years until his peaceful death in 1998. In "Your Name Is Hughes Hannibal Shanks," Lela Shanks sets forth the knowledge and wisdom that made all the difference. She describes her initial denial, her gradual acceptance, and her discovery that the key to successful caregiving lies in never losing sight of the patient's humanity. Shanks details the symptoms and stages of the disease, sets forth practical techniques for managing problems such as wandering and incontinence, and outlines 20 coping and survival strategies for caregivers.

Dr. Jerry Reed
Dr. Reed serves as the Director of the Center on the Study and Prevention of Injury, Violence and Suicide, and the Director of the national Suicide Prevention Resource Center at the Education Development Center, Inc. Prior to assuming this position on July 15, 2008, Dr. Reed served as the Executive Director for the Suicide Prevention Action Network USA (SPAN USA) for five years. He served as an independent consultant working on health care, mental health, geriatric and suicide prevention issues. He also previously worked with the Center for Mental Health Services on a variety of initiatives in support of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy and also served as project liaison with the three-year Hotline Linkage and Evaluation Project (HELP) and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC). Dr. Reed received an MSW degree with an emphasis in Aging Administration from the University of Maryland at Baltimore in 1982. He spent 15 years as a career civil servant working in both Europe and the United States as a civilian with the Department of the Army developing, implementing and managing a variety of quality of life programs including substance abuse prevention and treatment, family advocacy, child and youth development programs, social services and the range of morale, welfare and recreation programs. Selected as a Congressional Fellow in 1996, he worked in the Office of Senator Harry Reid (NV) serving as senior advisor on health care, mental health, suicide prevention and aging issues. Upon completion of the fellowship, Dr. Reed accepted a full time position with the U.S. Senate and completed his assignment in 1999 as Deputy Chief of Staff for Senator Reid. Jerry completed his doctoral degree in Health Related Sciences with an emphasis on Gerontology at the Virginia Commonwealth University in December 2007.

Lenny Dave (Founder and President of Lenmar Communications)
Lenny Dave is a nationally recognized creative thinker, humorist, speaker and author. He is also President of AATH - the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor.  Listen to Lenny's extended Internet-radio interview on BigMediaUSA.com discussing creativity, humor and laughter. Lenny's fun, motivational keynotes and 'think-shops' on creative leadership and wellness deliver an informative, entertaining kick-in-the-seat-of-the-pants! Lenny has addressed audiences ranging from college student leaders to corporate executives to cancer patients and their families.

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Southwest Ohio Caregiver Coalition (SOCC)

The mission of SOCC is to promote caregiver well being through collaborative partners. SOCC creates and delivers an evolving and responsive system of support for caregivers. The coalition is made up of many agencies and organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area. Members of SOCC include: Alzheimer's Association, Asian Community Alliance, Beckman Weil Shepardon LLC, Catholic Charities of Southwest Ohio, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati Red Cross, College of Mount St. Joseph, Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio, Dennison Keller LLC, Hospice of Cincinnati, Jewish Family Services, Mercy Health Partners, Senior Independence, Southwestern Ohio Association of Adult Day Services, Liz Tassone -- independent caregiver advocate, TriHealth SeniorLink and Tri-State Suicide Prevention Coalition.

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Event Sponsors

Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio	Council on Aging Learning Advantages (COALA)
Catholic Charities SouthWestern Ohio	Hospice of Cincinnati
Barrington Independent Living & Assisted Living	Eldermount Adult Day Program

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