Innovative Dementia Care

Topics covered will include:
• What’s so important about communication?
• How the communication process deteriorates
• Communication strengths of persons living with dementia
• Communication strategies effective in communicating with persons with dementia
• Troubleshooting difficult behaviors
• Your role as an advocate
• Ideas for interaction and activities
• Where to go for help
Reviews of Susan programs:
Communication is a human bond, when broken by Alzheimer’s, the loss can break the spirit. Susan’s book gives us hope and skills to keep the bond intact.
Z.L. MD

The topic was covered from patient, family member and caregiver perspectives which provided me with a greater ability to understand and interact with people with dementia. I also now have a better understanding of the disease itself.
S.K. Caregiver

Very practical and informative. These are communication skills that can be used outside VITAS as well. I saw my patient yesterday and made sure we were ‘face to face’ when having a conversation as we forget sometimes. Great use of time! Thanks.
B.V. Hospice Volunteer

The information was sufficient for me to confidently incorporate new techniques into the care of demented patients. Good balance of didactic, video and experiential teaching methods
Very effective, accessible, empowering and enthusiastic.
Thank you for the chance to attend this great workshop. It has already improved my skills and understanding!
D.W. Caregiver

Hello Ms. Kohler!
I had the opportunity to hear your seminar about communication techniques with dementia sufferers…It was very inspiring and these strategies have been endlessly helpful, professionally and personally! I’m now volunteering as an Ombudsman at a couple assisted living facilities in Orange County.
A.C. University Student

Author of “How to Communicate with Alzheimer’s”
Co-founder, Connected Hearts, LLC

Susan Kohler is a licensed and certified Speech-Language Pathologist, currently working in the southern California area. She graduated from Arizona State University with an M.S. in Communication Disorders. She completed a Clinical Fellowship Year at the Phoenix Day School for the Deaf. She has years of experience in different clinical settings, however, the main focus of her practice is working with the elderly. Susan has worked “in the trenches” with the elderly population in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home and Adult Day Health Care settings for over 25 years. She has worked as a Director of Clinical Programs and Rehabilitation Services Coordinator, in addition to duties as a Speech Pathologist. Susan recently completed a training video promoting the importance of communication with daily caregiving, which previews the techniques of her first communication strategy. Her experience with Alzheimer’s and dementia has gained her recognition as a dementia specialist with lecturing and training on best communication practices with this population. Employing the evidenced-based programs she has developed with Lenė Levy-Storms, Susan has a unique approach to training, as professional and family caregivers participate in experiential training which has proven to be effective with daily dementia care.
Susan is also a professional actress and singer/songwriter (visit susankohler.com) and attributes that training to enhancing her skills as a therapist working with the frail elderly. She is a member of the SAG-AFTRA, and Actors’ Equity with credits in television, film, stage and recording. Often, when working at one of her contracted facilities, she will bring her fellow artist friends to perform, or simply just talk to the patients and residents of the facility. The responses are always rewarding – what seem to be withdrawn, lifeless individuals – emerge into smiling, laughing, singing and interactive human beings. These experiences helped Susan realize that the “human connection” was vital to stimulating positive experiences of communication, sharing, bonding, building self-esteem and wellness in persons that many believe cannot understand or express their interests.
With much encouragement from family, friends, and colleagues, Susan began writing her book, “How to Communicate with Alzheimer’s.” It was one of the first books on the subject of communication practices and it was published in 2004. It is a practical guide and workbook for families that shows how to connect with loved ones who have Alzheimer’s, dementia, confusion and memory loss. It is a book that comes from not only from the heart of its author, but the hearts of the people who have dementia. In the acknowledgements, Susan thanks all these individuals with whom she has worked with – for helping her to appreciate life.
Susan was among 60+ national dementia care experts from across the country who came together in Washington DC to form a consensus white paper to clearly describe and detail person-centered dementia care. This paper, “Dementia Care: The Quality Chasm”, was presented to congress and published in January 2013.
Now as co-founder of Connected Hearts, LLC, her exceptional training programs are available for professional groups, community organizations and individuals who care for persons living with dementia. “Communication is at the heart of every human interaction. We must connect with each other. We are all part of an aging society, and together we can raise the bar on dementia care.” Susan Kohler

To download show MP3’s, please visit this link: https://www.spreaker.com/show/2883340