Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging Presents:

AGING PARENTS: WHEN TO STEP IN AND HOW TO APPROACH CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS 

Friends and family members of an older adult with hearing, memory or cognitive difficulties often experience challenges when trying to discuss areas of concerns. Understanding the red flags is essential prior to initiating some of those conversations which can be difficult to broach. Sometimes the changes are inconsistent and the implications are not always obvious, especially in the earlier stages of memory loss.

Walking their journey means helping the older adult have as much independence as possible while maximizing their safety and enhancing their quality of life. Conversations can benefit from utilizing techniques to facilitate communication, particularly when there are hearing, memory, and/or cognitive deficits. Knowing some of the more appropriate recommendations for their difficulties and compensatory strategies can lay the groundwork for future discussions and proactive planning. 

Learning Objectives:                                                                           

Participants will be able to:

• Describe communication deficits and compensatory strategies
• Recognize red flags within daily routine and potential resources and modifications
• List strategies for organizing a discussion
• Explain some common obstacles to the conversation
• Name ways to enhance future conversations
• Recall resources to support family and caregivers in the process

Time: 8:30am – 12pm (Log in to ZOOM beginning at 8:20am)

Speaker: 

Kathryn Kilpatrick M.A. is a Geriatric Life Enhancement Consultant, Memory Fitness/Brain Health Specialist, Motivational Speaker and Author and a Speech-Language Pathologist. She received her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology  from the University of Massachusetts. She has 5 decades of experience as a speech-language pathologist (1969 – 2019), working in a variety of settings primarily in Ohio, including hospitals and rehabilitation centers with 35 years in the area of home health care. She is a national motivational speaker and author of more than 30 products to enhance communication and connection for all those wanting to enhance their quality of life, particularly when there are communication, memory and cognitive challenges. Currently Kathryn is focusing on her geriatric life enhancement consulting practice and educational programs on related topics. She also continues to offer brain health/memory fitness and Lifelong Learning programs while expanding her Brain Game resources. Her websites, Communication Connection and Memory Fitness Matters have an abundance of resources including her eldercare and memory fitness blogs, interviews and podcasts, and sample pages of all her products. 

CEU Information: 

• Program is approved for 3.0 continuing education units for LSWs, LISWs, SWA, Nurses (via reciprocity with the SW board).
• The Ohio Board of Nursing will accept sessions approved for Social Workers for Continuing Nurse Education.
• To comply with the State of Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board: Late Arrivals will NOT be admitted.

Views and written materials presented during the presentations are those of the individual presenter and do not necessarily represent the official views and/or opinions of the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging.

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