Reframing Agitation and Aggression: Understanding the “Why” and Practical Applications
March 11 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm EDT
Hosted and Sponsored by:
Sponsor:
Location: National Council of Jewish Women – New York
241 West 72 Street New York, NY 10023
Presenter: Leah Daly MPH, CHES Senior Manager, Educational Programs and Services, AFA
Special Guest Presenter: Dasha Kiper MA, MSW Director of Caregiver Support, Renewal Memory Partners
After receiving her MA in clinical psychology from Columbia University, Dasha Kiper MA, MSW Director of Caregiver Support, Renewal Memory Partners became a live-in caregiver for a holocaust survivor suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. For the past fifteen years, she has supported family and professional caregivers and mental health professionals. She is the Director of Caregiver Support at Renewal Memory Partners. Her book Travelers to Unimaginable Lands: Stories of Dementia, the Caregiver, and the Human Brain, published to wide acclaim both in the U.S. and abroad, interweaves case histories and brain science to illuminate the neurological challenges facing family caregivers.
Course Description (General Course)
Individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions may experience episodes of agitation or aggression. While these behaviors are sometimes misunderstood as being within the person’s control, they are in fact a result of changes in the brain that affect comprehension, communication, and coping abilities. This general course reframes agitation and aggression as responsive behaviors—signals that the person is experiencing distress.
By the end of the presentation participants can
- Explain how neurodegenerative diseases impact communication and contribute to behaviors such as agitation and aggression.
- Identify common medical, environmental, and caregiving triggers that may cause distress.
- Interpret what individuals with dementia may be trying to communicate through these behaviors caused by medical, environmental, or caregiving triggers.
- Develop personalized de-escalation strategies for caregivers that reduce distress and promote safety.
- Effectively empathize with and create systems to address caregivers’ distress.
Agenda
5:00 – 5:30 – Food and Beverages
5:30 – 5:50 – Brief presentations from our sponsors
5:50 – 8:00 – Workshop (10 min break included)
2 CE credits available for social workers and certified case managers licensed in an ASWB-accredited state, as well as New York State licensed social workers. (Please note: NJ is not currently covered under our ASWB accreditation; please check back soon).
AFA #1898 is approved as an ACE provider.
We appreciate your interest in attending. At this time, the event is at capacity. To be placed on the waitlist, please reach out to Ldaly@alzfdn.org.