Atlantic Caregivers Expo Presentations

May 9 & 10, 2009 10:00am—5:00pm Exhibition Park, Halifax Free Admission!

www.atlanticcaregiver.com

Main Stage Presentations arranged by Caregivers Nova Scotia Association Saturday, May 9 10:30 am to 11:15 am Who is Taking Care?: Accessing Primary Health Care and Support for Dementia Caregivers By Deborah Kiceniuk, PhD

The Medication Review Program (MRP) is a joint project of the Nova Scotia Department of Health and the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia. Michelle is the Program Manager. She will describe the program, The main objective of the who can qualify, the purpose of a Transdisciplinary Primary Care review and how to schedule a for Caregivers Project is to review. generate knowledge about issues __________________________ concerning primary health care Saturday, May 9 and support for caregivers of 12:30 pm to 1:15 pm individuals affected by Alzheimer Research Study: Involuntary ReDisease and related dementias. tirement due to Caregiving This talk will provide a summary Responsibilities of the project’s progress to date By Aine Humble, PhD highlighting some of the key preliminary findings from the Ed note: details were unavailable family caregiver perspective. at press time. Please go to The discussion will then turn to www.caregiversns.org for more an overview of the information in early May. services that caregivers are __________________________ currently accessing in primary Saturday, May 9 and community care and the 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm barriers they perceive or have Registered Disability Savings Plan experienced in accessing this By Michelle Morgan-Coole, A care. This study has been jointly Primer on Special Needs and the funded by the Alzheimer Society Law of Canada and the Canadian The RDSP is a new long term Nurses Foundation. __________________________ savings program for people with disabilities. Michelle is a nonSaturday, May 9 practicing lawyer and parent to 11:30 am to 12:15 pm two children with special needs Medication Review Program who will share her hands-on By Michele Lycett BSc. Pharm; experience with setting up a Certified Diabetes Educator Registered Disability Savings Pharmacist/Owner, Bridgetown Plan. Pharmasave Did you know that you might qualify for a free review of your medications by a pharmacist?

Michelle blogs at www.specialneedsns.blogspot.com

__________________________ Saturday, May 9 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm Nova Scotia Pharmacare Programs By Ann Foran, Director Nova Scotia Medavie Blue Cross Did you know that the Nova Scotia government has two programs that help with the cost of medications? The Seniors Pharmacare program and its newer cousin, Family Pharmacare, will be described in this informative presentation. Learn how to determine which program is right for you if you are a senior. If you are not a senior, learn if you should apply for Family Pharmacare. __________________________ Saturday, May 9 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm Adult Day Programs By Thia Rutledge, Supervisor Adult Day Program, Oakwood Terrace Thia is an executive member of the newly formed Adult Day Program Association of Nova Scotia. In this presentation she will describe the different types of Adult Day Programs and who can benefit. She will also explain the services available in HRM and the rest of Nova Scotia.

Caregiver Expo Main Stage Presentations (page 2)

_________________________ Sunday, May 10 10:30 am to 11:15 am Demystifying Mental Health Services and Supports By Stephen Ayer, Executive Director, Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia Families, friends, and other supporters of individuals diagnosed with a mental illness can quickly become overwhelmed by the complexity of mental health services and supports in Nova Scotia. Difficult situations can arise when an individual, commonly a young adult, starts to exhibit signs and symptoms of psychosis and supporters of these individuals often do not know where to turn for help. Additionally, the mental health system is only now recognizing the importance of families as partners in mental health care. This presentation will address how to best access mental health services and supports in Nova Scotia, not only for your loved one, but for yourself. _________________________ Sunday, May 10 11:30 am to 12:15 pm The ABC’s of Long-term Care Insurance By Anne Sullivan, Desjardins Financial Security The purpose of long-term care insurance is to help pay the cost of care either in a nursing home or at home. It can give families options when choosing the type of care and where it will be provided. Anne is a nurse who uses her healthcare background to explain the ABC’s of longterm care insurance.

_________________________ Sunday, May 10 12:30pm to 1:15pm Continuing Care 101 By Alyson Currie, Caregiver Support Coordinator

Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, has shown how simple exercises at home can improve seniors' strength and balance, thereby reducing the risk of falling. _________________________ This workshop is designed to Sunday, May 10 help you navigate the Continu- 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm ing Care system in Nova Scotia. Care for the Caregiver Topics will include: What the By Alyson Currie, Caregiver continuing care system is . How Support Coordinator to access services and when accessing them may be necesThis workshop is designed to sary. What types of in-home help you, the caregiver, look services are available. How the after yourself. Topics Will long term care placement proc- include: Information on the ess works and what to expect impact of caregiving on you when applying for long term and your life, both positive care. and negative. Ways to help _________________________ alleviate some of the negative Sunday, May 10 impacts of caregiving. Tips to 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm help you through the difficult "Staying Independent Through times and times of crisis. Falls Prevention" Information on resources by Hilda Gmyz, member of the available to assist you in your HRM Preventing Falls Together coping and caregiving activities. Coalition _________________________ Sunday, May 10 Hilda will speak about the 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm practical ways that seniors and The Basics of Estate Planning family members can reduce the By Sanaz Gerami, LL.B. & risk of falling. After a brief inSharon Reashore, LL.B. troduction to the issue of falls among seniors, Hilda will offer This workshop provides a some tips and suggestions general overview of Wills, about how we can reduce the Powers of Attorney and Health risk of falling by simple changes Care Directives (“Living Wills”). in our personal habits and home We will discuss why it is imporsurroundings. From her experi- tant to have these in place ence as Community Health sooner than later and give tips Equipment Loan Coordinator for talking to your care recipient with the Canadian Red Cross, about estate planning and who Hilda will touch on the importo go to for help. tance of using assistive devices like canes and walkers in the Go to prevention of falls. Hilda will www.CaregiversNS.org end the session with a demonfor Expo information or stration of some simple call 421-7390 or 1-877exercises from the Home Support Exercise Program. This 488-7390. program, developed by the