Alzheimer’s Association offering program

CELINA — The Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter is offering an in-person education program in Celina that will teach caregivers how to better communicate with loved ones living with dementia as the disease progresses.

The program, Effective Communication Strategies, is being offered free to the community and will be held from 1-2 p.m. on Monday, May 16, at Mercer County Council on Aging, located at 217 Riley Street.

“The Council on Aging is a long-time partner of the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Pam Myers, Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter program director. “We always appreciate having the opportunity to work together with them to help the community.”

During the program, attendees will learn that communication is more than just talking and listening — it’s also about sending and receiving messages through attitude, tone of voice, facial expressions and body language. As people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia progress in their journey and the ability to use words is lost, families need new ways to connect.

Join this program to explore how communication takes place when someone has Alzheimer’s, learn to decode the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia, and identify strategies to help you connect and communicate at each stage of the disease.

In 2021, there were 421,000 caregivers caring for 220,000 Ohioans age 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2022 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures.

They provided 614 million hours of unpaid care. The number of people living with Alzheimer’s in Ohio is expected to increase to 250,000 in 2025.

“Join us to learn how to more effectively communicate with your loved ones as their dementia progresses,” Myers said.

“Communication changes through each stage of the disease, and we’re here to help you navigate those changes.”

Those who are concerned about themselves or a loved one can contact the Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter at 419.537.1999 to schedule a care consultation and be connected with local resources that can help.

Following all current state and local health and venue site guidelines regarding masks, social distancing and meeting size, the Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter will begin offering programs and support groups both in person and virtually. While masks are optional (unless required by the venue site), unvaccinated and compromised participants should consider wearing masks when attending programs and other meetings.