A Night to Remember brings professionals together to discuss dementia

Gardens at Westlake Executive Director Christina Melaragno and guest speaker Dr. Cameron J.Camp.

The Gardens at Westlake assisted living facility held a special event for the community on June 27 dedicated to memory loss and dementia. The two-part program began with an introduction of the facility's new Residence Club, a program that supports residents with mild memory loss or confusion.

Local health care professionals on hand to provide information included: Alzheimer’s Association, Lakewood Hospital Senior Care Assessment Center, Cleveland Clinic at Home, St. John Medical Center's NICHE Program, Dr. Emil Sabbagh and Via Quest Home and Health Hospice.

Entertainment was also provided by a harpist and there was a chocolate fountain, ice sculpture, wine tasting and a wide array of appetizers.

The second part of the evening was devoted to the guest speaker, Cameron J. Camp, Ph.D., who is well known throughout the United States. His topic was: Effective Interventions for Dementia: Lessons from Montessori and Neuroscience. Dr. Camp is a noted psychologist specializing in applied research in gerontology. He currently serves as the director of research and development at the Center for Applied Research in Dementia, based in Solon.

He discussed his current research, which involves the use of Montessori-based activities as rehabilitative interventions to enable long-term care residents with dementia to effectively lead activities for other residents with dementia; interventions to enable therapists to apply memory improvements techniques during the course of therapy with persons with dementia and other cognitive impairments; and the use of cognitive rehabilitation via telecommunication to enable persons with cognitive deficits to adhere to medical regimens. These interventions are all designed to reduce problem behaviors and increase the level of functioning of persons with dementia and related cognitive disorders.

Following his presentation, Dr. Camp signed copies of his new book, “Hiding the Stranger in the Mirror: A Detective’s Manual For Coping with Alzheimer's Disease.” The book is very interesting; an easy read that is effective for professionals as well as the general public with a wealth of wonderful information.

Read More on Health & Wellness
Volume 4, Issue 14, Posted 12:58 PM, 07.10.2012