“Incredibly life changing!”
“I learned the answers to questions I didn’t even know I needed to ask.”
These are among the comments by participants in Wake Forest Presbyterian Church’s dementia caregiver class. Now this class has received formal recognition through its affiliation with the UNC Memory Disorders Program as well as the Lewy Body Dementia Association.
This affiliation happened because of an invitation by Dr. Daniel Kaufer, Director of UNC Memory Disorders Program, as part of the LBDA Research Center of Excellence award granted to UNC. Thirty-three physicians at 24 prestigious universities and research hospitals have received this honor, as you can see in this link: https://www.lbda.org/rcoecenters.
“We look forward to expanding our collaborative efforts with Pat Snyder and all of the great work she does for patients and families who are engaging Lewy body dementia,” said Dr. Kaufer, who is also Chief of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology at UNC.
Class founder and co-teacher Pat Snyder responded, “Our class is the affiliated dementia class/group for UNC! It is so exciting to be part of such an excellent program!” She also stressed, although the affiliation is related to LBD, the classes are applicable for the full range of dementias.
The Wake Forest Presbyterian Church dementia caregiver class has been operating since January of this year. By the end of 2018 there will have been 18 classes offered as a gift to the community. Anyone dealing with a loved one with any dementia diagnosis is welcome to come and add practical and proven tools to your toolbox.
Snyder said, “Our mission is to encourage, educate, and empower those who are caring for loved ones with dementia. We seek to be a place where real issues are shared, where burdens are lightened and joys are magnified, and where we all learn how to enhance the personhood of the one with the disease. A gentler journey is our goal.”
She continued. “This is not a traditional support group. There are already very good ones available in our area. I spent the first year after moving here two years ago, visiting area offerings for caregivers and was very impressed! I was looking for what I could contribute to our community that was not already being done. When I found Lynette Wilson, formerly a nurse practitioner and currently volunteering as parish nurse at WFPC, I had the perfect partner to make something wonderful happen. This hybrid class/group is the result. There is always an educational piece to every meeting along with an opportunity to ask questions and to share concerns. The education is important because there is so much to learn when you are thrust into the role of dementia caregiver.” Classes typically meet the third Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon in the Youth Room of Wake Forest Presbyterian Church at 12605 Capital Boulevard.
Contact Pat Snyder at patsnyder137@gmail.com or 828-429-7905 or Lynette Wilson at lynetteywilson@nc.rr.com or 252-671-6523.
