After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that the conference will not take place on April 16, 2020. In light of the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation, and in keeping with guidelines to limit large events, we have decided not to hold the meeting as planned.

Thank you for your interest and we look forward to seeing you in 2021.

2020 Gerontology Symposium:

Caregiving for Persons Living with Dementia and Their Caregivers

April 16, 2020 (Thursday)
Hilton Hotel, Burlington, VT 05401

Who Should Attend? Professionals and Caregivers

The conference is designed to present topics and information relevant for both family and professional caregivers who work with our population of older adults. This is the third year that the conference will be open to family caregivers and will include two different tracks for "breakout" sessions:

  • Family Caregiver Track
  • Professional Track

Participants will also come together in plenary sessions that include all attendees, such as the keynote, a talk on research, and a panel on the innovative CARERS (Coaching, Advocacy, Respite, Education, Relationship and Simulation) program for family caregivers presented by The Memory Program at UVM Medical Center, in partnership with the UVM Center on Aging.

2020 Symposium Details

Link to current program agenda

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Sponsorship

We gratefully acknowledge our sponsorship:

Exhibit at the Conference!

For more information about exhibiting, please contact Kate Martin (katherine.w.martin@med.uvm.edu).  

Receive notice about future Conferences

Send an email to Janet.Nunziata@med.uvm.edu with "Conference" in the subject line.  

Beth A. Kallmyer, MSW

Vice President of Care and Support for the Alzheimer's Association

Keynote Presentation

Policies, Practices and Procedures to Support Quality Care in Long Term Care Settings

The Alzheimer's Association 2018 Dementia Care Practice Recommendations outline quality care based on a comprehensive review of current evidence, best practice and expert option. Grounded in the fundamentals of person-centered care, the recommendations are intended for professional care providers who work with individuals living with dementia and their families across the disease continuum in residential and community based care settings. This presentation will highlight practical strategies for implementing evidence based practices.

Beth Kallmyer - keynote speaker

Beth Kallmyer oversees national and local programs for individuals facing Alzheimer's and their families, as well as outreach to professional care providers. She leads the Association's portfolio of care and support services, including the 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900). This nationwide resource is staffed by specialists and master's-level clinicians, offering confidential information and counseling to people affected by Alzheimer's and other dementias.

Beth also manages ALZConnect®, a free online community for people living with dementia and their caregivers, Alzheimer's Navigator®, an online assessment tool to help those facing the disease create personalized action plans, and the online education programs and content. Additionally, she oversees the delivery of face-to-face education programs, support groups and care consultation services nationwide.

Topics Addressed

This conference is designed to enable participants to gain knowledge pertaining to caregiving for older adults who are living with dementia, as well as how to support family care partners and caregivers. The symposium also seeks to strengthen the connections between family caregivers and professionals.

In 2020, topics will include:

  • Navigating successful transitions; using advance care planning and goals of care to reduce hospitalizations for persons living with dementia.
  • Teepa Snow's Approach to caring for and interacting with those who live with dementia using the "Hand-Under-Hand" approach to care.
  • New Support Programs for family members who provide care for a loved one coping with a primary dementia or dementia related to Parkinson's Disease and other conditions (offered by the Memory Program at UVM Medical Center, in partnership with the UVM Center on Aging).
  • Self-care for Caregivers: Evidence-based approaches to relieve stress, pain, and anxiety. You will take home a detailed instructional handout with additional resources.
  • Shared Living Model of Community Living; explore whether this community-based living arrangement might work for your loved one.
  • Finding support services for your loved one with dementia, as well as yourself, including how to access Adult Day Programs, Home Health services and Hospice.
  • Planning for Legal and Financial Matters, including advance directives and basic Medicaid issues.

Click here to see the day's schedule: 2020 Gerontology Agenda

Accreditation

Jointly Accredited Provider TMIn support of improving patient care, the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

This program has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 6.25 nursing contact hours.

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 6.25 continuing education credits.

The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation has approved this course for 6.25 hours of continuing education for Allied Mental Health Practitioners.

The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation has approved this course for 6.25 continuing education hours for Nursing Home Administrators.

Conference Syllabus

The conference syllabus will be available as an electronic download with presentations as PDF files. Please bring your laptop/electronic device to view presentations as well as to complete the electronic conference evaluations. You will receive a notification via email prior to the conference start date with instructions for accessing the presenting. Printed syllabi will not be available.

Registration Fees

The Center on Aging is proud to present a full day of professional development at an affordable cost. We thank our sponsors and exhibitors for their support, which enables us to keep the fees as low as possible.

  • Professionals: $35
  • Family Caregivers: $20 (discounted registration is intended for those caring for a family member)
  • Continuing Education Credit: add $20