Webinar is offered on ‘Dementia and Congregational Care’

By Jeanne Davies

Dementia affects individuals, their family members, and the congregation. We often want to offer support, but we do not know where to start. We often back off because we don’t want to do the wrong thing.

This webinar, co-hosted by the Church of the Brethren Discipleship Ministries and the Anabaptist Disabilities Network, will help you understand the basics of dementia and learn how to reach out. We will offer communication tips and practical ways to stay connected. We can maintain relationships by providing reassurance, encouragement, and acceptance. When we include our members with dementia and their families, the whole congregation benefits.

Heddie Sumner, RN, BSN, will lead this webinar. Before her retirement, she served as care manager, director of Dementia Services, and director of Resources and Development for the Midland County (Mich.) Council on Aging. She is co-author of two works: A Family Centered Alzheimer’s Care: A Caregiver’s Manual and Doing More with Less: Michigan Dementia Coalition. In addition, she provides training on dementia for staff of adult care facilities and church leadership.

This free, one-hour webinar is planned for Thursday, June 16, at 1 p.m. (Eastern time). Accredited ministers may receive 0.1 continuing education credit through the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkf-yrrj0uHNRG4WbTuTNKynGvIAbxV7I-.

For questions about the webinar or registration contact Stan Dueck, co-coordinator of Discipleship Ministries, at sdueck@brethren.org or 847-429-4343.

–-Jeanne Davies is executive director of the Anabaptist Disabilities Network.