2016 Spring Alzheimer’s Conference

Educated, Equipped and Empowered

Date:   Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Time:  8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Sign-in/networking/refreshments at 8:00 a.m.

Orland Park Civic Center, Orland Park, Illinois

This inspiring and valuable educational event will offer creative insight , tools and resources to help professionals, paraprofessionals and lay caregivers feel more empowered in their roles.  Join us for a fast paced and interactive agenda to gain the most current information on quality of life considerations, communication techniques, physical activity modalities, nutrition concerns, legal/financial planning and self-care approaches.  Caregivers in the community are also encouraged to attend this unique program.  Upon completion of this program, you should be able to:

• Identify  effective communication approaches to important verbal and non-verbal ques for attention.
• Recognize activities that will enhance or maintain function of persons with Alzheimer’s disease in any setting.
• Discuss practical evidence-based techniques to increase cognition and social engagement.
• Address the legal and financial concerns  for persons with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
• Describe the ways of integrating humor and laughter to enrich daily life in Alzheimer’s care.

Agenda Here

Presented by:

Faculty:

Melanie Adams, MA, is the Director of Education & Outreach for the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter. She holds a masters degree in Organizational Leadership and a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation. Ms. Adams has steadily progressed in her career beginning as a direct care worker to that of a consultant and manager of talent for the Greater IL Chapter’s education team.  She has published several articles on living with a disease or disability, accepting everyone’s ability level, and supporting caregivers and honoring choice.  During the past ten years, Ms. Adams has trained both professionals and families facing memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease and has been a valuable resource to her community. As a team leader across Greater Illinois, she motivates and empowers her team and volunteers to deliver quality education and awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.

Rebecca Khayum, MS, CCC-SLP, is a co-founder, Preisdent and Speech Pathologist of MemoryCare, an organization in Aurora that provides therapy, counseling and support for individuals and families coping with Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer’s, Frontotemporal Dementia,including Primary Progressive Aphasia, and other cognitive conditions including stroke and traumatic brain injury.   Ms. Khayum holds a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders from Purdue University. Prior to starting MemoryCare, she held various leadership roles in nursing homes and assisted living facilities around the Chicago region. Through these experiences, Ms. Khayum  has developed a passion for helping those with Alzheimer’s, Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and other memory disorders. 

Peggy Kinst, is an an Ageless Grace® Educator and Trainer in the Chicago area. Ms. Kinst has been a Wellness Specialist for more than 40 years. Her passion is to find options for all people to enjoy happier, healthier and “fearless” living.  She was featured in a book photographed and authored by Mary Ann Halpin called Fearless Women, Fearless Wisdom.  Ms. Kinst employs her “fearless” approach in training and educating others to “change the model of aging”.

Barry Kozak, JD, is in Elder Law Private Practice in Chicago. For the past decade, as a full time professor of law, he taught future attorneys on how to understand and apply the laws that protect and empower people as they retire, grow old, and approach the ends of their lives. In 2015, he decided that he can do more good by starting this law practice and educating individuals and families. Mr. Kozak maintains academic appointments at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and at The John Marshall Law School. In addition to being licensed to practice law in Illinois, Mr. Kozak has earned professional designations in financial consulting and pension consulting as well as credentials in investment, live and health insurance strategies. 

Suzanne Musil, PhD, ABPP-CN, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences of Rush University Medical College. She received her PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience from Princeton University.  After 4 years of post-doctoral research in neuroanatomy and electrophysiology at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Musil decided to re-specialize in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Florida, with a pre-doctoral internship at the University of Chicago, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at Northwestern University Medical School.  Since respecializing, she has worked in private practice, geriatric psychiatric facilities, undergraduate teaching institutions, and academic medical centers.  Dr. Musil specializes in working with older adults, assisting with the diagnosis of age-related memory changes versus dementia utilizing neuropsychological assessment of memory and other cognitive abilities, and working with older adults on a one-on-one basis to learn compensatory memory strategies.

Julie Ostrow, CHP, is a trained improvisor at the The Second City in Chicago and comedienne at large. Ms. Ostrow conducts improv workshops for businesses, schools, and healthcare organizations where she teaches the art of “Yes, And…” in creating effective brainstorming sessions and being in the present moment in order to truly listen to clients, students, and patients. she believes in “finding the funny” in daily life and in life’s challenging moments. Through the use of humor and laughter, she demonstrates to audiences how lightening our lives can lead to more joy and ultimately, healing on all levels—physical, emotional, and spiritual. A certified laughter yoga leader, Ms. Ostrow is the First-Ever American Laughing Champion and a contributing author of “The Happiness Recipe…Wit, Wisdom, and Wonderful Food.”

Conflict of Interest Policy Statement:   Faculty participating in this program are expected to disclose to the program audience any real or apparent conflict(s) or unlabeled use related to the content of their presentations.