More than 60 members of the St. Paul Parish National Catholic Church, located at 5245 SE 112th Street in Belleview recently attended a two-hour training in dementia care and awareness that qualified the church to be certified Dementia Friendly. It is the first congregation to earn such certification in Marion County.
The workshop, conducted by Debbie Selsavage, president of Coping with Dementia LLC, is offered free of charge to churches, civic clubs, and other non-profit organizations. It defines Alzheimer’s and dementia, explains how dementia affects individuals, discusses ways to interpret dementia behaviors for better communication and results, and shows how compassion and the proper use voice, approach, and appropriate touch can result in more effective and less stressful caregiving for individuals living with dementia.
For more information about Alzheimer’s and dementia training and awareness, call 352-422-3663 or e-mail deb@coping.today.
