Jim Wilgus, Executive Director and Regional Leader, Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter
Jim has over 30 years of experience in the voluntary health sector. He first joined the Alzheimer’s Association in 2010, and previously served as the regional leader for nine states in the Western U.S. and as senior field director for the chapter relations team, acting as a liaison to more than 45 chapters nationwide. His previous experience includes 20 years in various leadership positions at the American Heart Association and several years as President and CEO of the American Lung Association of California.

Carrie McBride, Director of Marketing and Communications, Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter
Carrie joined the Alzheimer’s Association in 2017. She has over 15 years of nonprofit experience, having held a variety of leadership positions in marketing, development, finance and administration. Carrie holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, is a member of the Dementia Action Collaborative and has a passion for helping families like hers that have been affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

It can be overwhelming to care for someone living with dementia and too much stress can be harmful to you both. Learn to recognize the warning signs of caregiver burnout, as well as healthy, effective strategies for managing caregiver stress.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Wendy Nathan, BS, CMC, Aging Life Care Professional and Care Manager, Aging Wisdom
Wendy graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Health Science and Respiratory Therapy from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Later, she earned a certificate in Gerontology from the University of Washington. Wendy has over two decades of experience in health care, including as a respiratory therapist, massage therapist, home caregiver and currently, as an Aging Life Care Professional and Care Manager for Aging Wisdom.

The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia makes planning for the future more important than ever. Learn about important legal and financial issues to consider, how to put plans in place and how to access legal resources near you.

Hari Alipuria, Attorney at Law
Hari is an attorney in Tacoma, Wash. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth and a law degree from the University of Michigan. Hari is a Veteran of the United States Army and has received many awards as a Toastmaster. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, working out and spending time with his family.

People living with dementia and their carers face myriad losses, often over an extended period of time. This session explores the concepts of ambiguous loss, anticipatory grief and grief overload, and offers tips for keeping realistic hope alive as you experience the many changes associated with dementia.

Marty Richards, MSW, LICSW
Marty Richards has been a social worker and teacher for many years and is now retired from the School of Social Work at the University of Washington and Institute on Aging. She has presented at professional conferences, caregiver forums and for communities of faith across the U.S. and Canada. She has also published several articles and a book about caregiving and dealing with grief and loss.

Learn practical tips you can put to use right away. Our panel of experts will cover topics like creating a daily routine, physical activity at home, addressing nutritional challenges and how to prevent falls. This interactive session will also include time for Q&A.

PANELISTS

Maggie Christofferson, Community Outreach Manager, Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter
Maggie joined the Alzheimer’s Association in 2019 and currently serves as a Community Outreach Manager for the South and West Sound. Prior to joining the Association, she was a caregiver for 15 years and taught caregiving for nearly eight years. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Washington. In her free time, Maggie enjoys gardening, running and being with her family.

Julie Hooley, CTRS, Care Navigator, Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter
Julie has her bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. She worked in assisted living as an activity director for nine years before joining the Alzheimer’s Association. She now leads a virtual, weekly physical fitness class for people with early-stage memory loss and their care partners.

Victoria Panzer, MA, EdM, PhD, President, Brookside Research and Development
Dr. Panzer has worked with older adults since 1987. Her focus is on applying her skills and experience to improve the lives of seniors by addressing a serious common concern: preventing falls. Starting in 1993 with funding from the National Institutes of Health and other federal, state and local community organizations, Dr. Panzer has led a team that develops new approaches to falls prevention.

Sydney Zenzen, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech-Langauge Pathologist, Infinity Rehab
Sydney is currently a speech-language pathologist practicing in skilled nursing. Her patient population consists predominantly of people with swallowing and cognitive challenges. In her practice, she teaches and trains patients and their care partners how to compensate for swallowing challenges and increase intake during meals through strengthening exercises, compensatory swallow strategies and environmental modification.

Moderated by Keri Pollock, Director of Marketing and Communications, Aging Wisdom
Keri Pollock has worked in the field of aging for over 25 years. She currently directs communications for Aging Wisdom, a care management practice based in Seattle. Keri is a member of the Age-Friendly Coalition for Seattle and King County, serves on the Advisory Committee of the Frye Art Museum Creative Aging Programs, and the Marketing and Communications Committee of the Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter.

Families often need to learn new ways to connect with their loved ones as dementia progresses. Together, we will explore how communication takes place when someone has dementia, learn to decode verbal and behavioral messages and identify strategies for connecting and communicating at each stage of the disease.

Kay Lehmann, EdD, Community Volunteer, Alzheimer’s Association
Dr. Kay Lehmann currently works as a realtor in the Tri-Cities, but has spent many years as a volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association. She has served four years as the chair of the Tri-Cities Walk to End Alzheimer’s. She is also a community educator and board member for the Washington State Chapter.