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Public forum to provide education on dementia caregiving

Photo caption: Amy Siple, APRN, will present on “Understanding Dementia and Caring for Those Who Have It,” at the Bluestem Communities public Dementia Forum on July 17. Photo provided.a

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – Bluestem Communities will host a Dementia Forum on Wednesday, July 17, at Kidron Bethel Village’s Kidron Hall, 3001 Ivy Dr., North Newton, Kan. Doors will open at 6 p.m., with the hour-long presentation to begin at 6:30 p.m. Both 30 minutes prior to and following the presentation, further resources and services will be on display to share information. The event is free and open to the public.

The presentation will be on “Understanding Dementia and Caring for Those Who Have It,” by Amy Siple, APRN. The evening will review the most common types of dementia, help participants understand why challenging neuropsychiatric symptoms (behaviors) occur, and explore strategies for interacting with someone with dementia.

With about 16.1 million Americans providing unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, the forum is designed to be beneficial for anyone providing care for someone living with dementia, both professional caregivers and family or friends.

Siple is a national speaker and author on health care issues that impact older adults and the empowerment of health care givers. She has been serving the primary care needs of residents in long term care for more than 24 years. Three Kansas governors have appointed Siple to serve on boards and task forces to represent the needs of older adults, and she currently serves as the Chair for the Kansas board for Adult Care Home Executives. Siple is a TEDx speaker and a content expert for Project Echo. Under her leadership as President of the Kansas Advanced Practice Nurses Association, Kansas became the 26th state to pass full practice authority for APRN’s in 2022. She was given the AANP state award for excellence in 2023. She is also a certified John Maxwell leadership speaker, coach and trainer.

One continuing education (CE) hour is approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing and the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services is available for attending the presentation for those who desire it. The CE cost is $15 and must be registered for prior to the forum. Registration for the CE can be found at bluestemks.org/events.

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About Bluestem Communities

Bluestem Communities is a nonprofit organization in south central Kansas that serves seniors through various living options, care settings and care-centered services. Visit bluestemks.org.