Pioneer Technology Center will be hosting a oneday Caregiver Conference on Tuesday, July 25 at 9:15 am, with registration at 9 am.

According to information from the Mayo Clinic, about one in three adults in the United States provide care to other adults as informal caregivers.

As populations age, the need to care for people with dementia has become more common. Dementia is not a specific disease, but rather a general term like cancer. There are over 120 different forms, causes and types that share the characteristics such as impaired ability to remember, think or make decisions that interferes with everyday activities.

Dementia causes both chemical and structural changes to the brain. Understanding this is important for realizing the reasons people do what they do, as it is much more than just memory loss.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 55 million people live with dementia worldwide and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year. The number is expected to rise to 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050.

Changes from dementia can become severe enough that families will have to prepare to help their loved ones strive in spite of the diagnosis.

This conference will feature sessions on topics such as legal documents important to caregivers; what caregivers need to know about Medicare; how the newly passed Oklahoma Caregiver Act will lessen the financial challenge of the caregiver’s responsibilities and more.

A “Continuum of Care” panel, made of representatives from the different senior services, will describe their programs: Oklahoma Human Services, Home Health Agencies, VA benefits for senior veterans, Respite Care, a break for the caregiver, transportation and meal programs.

This is a free conference, and lunch will be served. Lunch reservations are necessary.

For more information or to call for a lunch reservation, contact Judy Rupp at 580-382-9099 or email seniorresourcespc@ outlook.com.

This program is made possible through the generous support from: Clark Gerontology Fund, RSVP of Kay County AmeriCorps Seniors, Community Health Foundation of Kay County, United Way of North Central Oklahoma and the Pioneer Technology Center.