Dementia caregiver skills topic of UW Center on Aging YouTube program

The University of Wyoming has announced that improving the communication skills of people who are caregivers for those living with dementia is the topic on the next edition of “Once Again,” the YouTube channel program hosted by the University of Wyoming’s Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA).

Kyle Page, a geriatric psychologist from Chicago, will discuss “Behavioral Challenges: Communication Skills for Behavior Change” that will be available beginning Wednesday, Nov. 8, and can be found on Wyoming Dementia Together’s (WDT) YouTube channel here. The program also may be found through the YouTube search feature by accessing “Wyoming Dementia Together – Once Again.”

UW also invites viewers to subscribe to the channel and hit the “like” button. Both actions will help the channel grow and reach more caregivers of loved ones with dementia. Comments and questions from viewers are encouraged in the section below the posted interview.

In the program, Page said most people living with dementia will experience some kind of behavior change.

“This can vary by the type of dementia, and it can look different for each individual,” he said. “Some changes that occur may be verbal, while others may be physical, emotional or even psychiatric.”

As the person’s communication abilities change, so must the caregiver’s communication. For instance, it is helpful to face the person directly before speaking, reduce any distractions in the room and allow more time for a response, he added.

“Once Again” is coordinated through the WYCOA-sponsored WDT group, which includes dementia care professionals, licensed clinical social workers, physical and occupational therapists, and caregivers.

For information about free services offered by WDT, call WyCOA at (307) 766-2829 or email wycoa@uwyo.edu.

For more information, go to the WDT Caregiver Network website.