MCLS Partners Up with Alzheimer’s Association for Educational Series

ZANESVILLE, OH – The Muskingum County Library System has partnered up with the Alzheimer’s Association for a five part educational series.

The first program in the series is Effective Communications Strategies and it will be held on Friday, April 19th from 4 to 5:30PM at the John McIntire Library.

Skyler Tigner, the Adult Services Assistant Librarian, provided some statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association and talked about why this event is beneficial for the community.

“According to the Alzheimer’s Association, over 200,000 people in Ohio over the age of 65 are living with dementia and Alzheimer’s and over 400,000 family caregivers bear the burden of the disease,” Tigner said. “By attending these sessions, we’re not only going to gain a deeper understanding for Alzheimer’s and dementia but also learn practical ways to be able to support them and the caregivers involved in the situation as well.”

Tigner also talked about the first session, Effective Communication Strategies, and what you can expect if you attend.

She said the first session is a workshop that will teach caregivers how to decode verbal and behavioral communications by someone who may have Alzheimer’s or dementia.

She also provided more details on the topics that will be covered at the other upcoming sessions.

“Understanding Alzheimer’s, the 10 Warning Signs of Dementia, Healthy Living for Your Body and Brain, and then being able to have difficult conversations,” Tigner said. “That come alongside the dementia diagnosis for the person and also for the caregivers who are giving the conversations.”

Tigner said there will also be two additional session later on in September and October that will take place at the Center for Seniors

To register for any of the events in this series, you can head to the Muskingum County Library System’s website. For more information from the Alzheimer’s Association, you can head to their website.