While we've all had to adapt to COVID, caregiving continues. This year our team brings you information from national speaker, Melanie Bunn, RN, and local experts Nichole Atkinson and Tyronda Whitaker.

Come together with other caregivers online

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

9:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Together we will explore the topics

How Do You Know When You Need Help?

Aging in My World

Payment & Placement: The Long-Term Care Process

Join the Barton College Gerontology Program, Dementia Alliance of North Carolina, and the Upper Coastal Plain Area Agency on Aging for our 19th Caregiver Education Conference.

Each year this educational event explores various topics related to dementia. This conference is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Joe and Sarah Anne Poole Russell and in honor of all family caregivers.

We encourage family caregivers and friends of those living with dementia and clergy and professionals who want more dementia education to tune in,

Tuesday, March 8th from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm.

Register today and receive a link to our special conference platform where you will be able to watch our education sessions and visit resource exhibitor booths to find a variety of resources in Wilson and eastern North Carolina.

This is event is free for family caregivers, friends, neighbors, students, and clergy. It is only $15 for professional caregivers seeking CEUs (3.0 CEUs see ticket details for more information - CEU candidates must participate in the live event).

Speaker and Session Information:

How Do You Know When You Need Help? Melanie Bunn, RN, GNP

Melanie Bunn is a nurse, teacher, trainer, speaker, coach, consultant, support group facilitator, researcher, mom, daughter, and sister. She is a Dementia Training Consultant for Dementia Alliance of North Carolina and works with Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care, Bunn Consulting, and Duke University School of Nursing.
She is a skilled and experienced advanced practice nurse and nurse educator, conducting over 200 presentations and trainings annually to health professionals, community organizations, first responders, families, and others. She was part of the award-winning Accepting the Challenge DVD with Teepa Snow. Her research participation has focused on improving care of older people, especially those with cognitive impairment, through improving the education of interprofessional teams and families. She has volunteered as an Alzheimer’s Support Group Facilitator for over 25 years.

In this session, Melanie will explore some of the challenges of living with dementia at home and suggest answers to the age-old question, "How do we know when we need more help?" Is it when someone needs a bit more help with daily tasks? Should we wait until someone can't shower or bathe on their own? Just when is the time?

Aging in my World - Nichole Atkinson

Nichole C. Atkinson is the Adult Services Programmatic Supervisor at Wilson County Department of Social Services (WCDSS) with 14 years of human services experience. She has been employed with WCDSS since 2018 and has been consistently involved in training, learning, and performing advocacy for the disabled and vulnerable adult population.
Prior to her time with WCDSS, Nichole has held several positions focused on the aging population and serving individuals living with mental health diagnoses. Nichole was instrumental in leading and coordinating elder abuse day events for her prior employer, Vance
County Department of Social Services, and currently leads those efforts with Wilson County.
Nichole has been influential in advocating for the elderly population in Wilson and surrounding counties. It is her passion for this population that fuels her consistent pursuit for helping to find resources for the adult population which has led to developing and cultivating the county at large to become a dementia-friendly community.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology from Barton College in 2011 and is seeking a Master of Social Work from Winthrop University with an anticipated graduation date of May 2023.

This session will focus on aging services offered through the Wilson County Department of Social Services and how one may safely age at home. A great portion of this session will also include what to do if you have a loved one, friend, or neighbor who you feel is being abused, neglected, or exploited. As we age one should not be forced to leave their home or “world” if they can obtain and/or coordinate all essential services for themselves. Her department believes in preventative-style programs that would allow individuals to age in the home or “world”.

Payment & Placement: The Long-Term Care Process - Tyronda Whitaker

Tyronda Whitaker is the Lead Region Long Term Care Ombudsman at Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments. She has over 16 years of experience in long-term care and has worked on the administrative level in skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Tyronda is knowledgeable of resident’s rights and state regulations governing long-term care. She is an advocate and often serves as the liaison between the resident/family and facility or the resident and his or her family.

Finding out that a loved one needs long term placement can be overwhelming. This presentation will provide information on the long term care process from the physician's office to admission into a facility. Payment options and other resources will be explained.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The conference will open days before our actual event to give you time to navigate and get used to the website and explore the resources and sponsor booths.

It will also stay open after the event so those who have registered will have access to both the education sessions and resource information through the end of March.

YOUR HOSTS:

NEED HELP OR HAVE QUESTIONS?

Ashleigh Glover, Area Agency on Aging,

(252) 234-5984, AGlover@ucpcog.org

Lisa Levine, Dementia Alliance,

(919) 832-3732, llevine@DementiaNC.org

This conference is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Joe and Sarah Anne Poole Russell and in honor of all family caregivers.

With special recognition to the Russell family for supporting this conference since 2003.

Thank you to our sponsors!!

CapTel NC &

Hospice of Wilson
Spring Arbor of Wilson
Eisai

19th Annual Wilson Dementia Caregiver Conference