Terra Vista is hosting a FREE seminar, "Creating a Safe Environment for People with Dementia" on Friday, November 20 at 2:00 p.m. at the Terra Vista Information Office located at 100 E. Roosevelt, Suite 35 in Villa Park (Next to Outback Steak House).  

Alzheimer's disease causes many changes in the brain and body that may affect safety from lapses in judgment to loss of physical abilities. Eventually, your loved one with Alzheimer's may lose the ability to distinguish between hot and cold, to recognize familiar areas in the home and to use ordinary household appliances. With some creativity and problem solving, you can adapt the environment to accommodate these changes. It's important to develop a plan and have precautions in place early on. Always keep in mind that it is usually easier for you to adapt to the person with dementia's environment instead of forcing him/her to adapt to your own.

Seminar Objectives:      
- Determine how dementia affects safety, depending on the stage of the disease.      
- Review general safety principles for the person with dementia      
- Identify creative and effective ways to make the home environment safer to support progressive changes in memory, behavior and physical ability
- Pinpoint when and how to stop unsafe driving.

What You'll Learn:
- Gain an overview of safety principles: prevention, adaptation and minimizing danger.
- Review ways to make the home safer, room by room from entranceway and garage to kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and living spaces.
- Receive safety tips on how to keep your loved one safe during episodes of wandering, rummaging and agitation.
- Learn the initial warning signs of unsafe driving and go over strategies to stop your loved one from getting behind the wheel.

Presented by Natalie McFarland, BSN, RN Alzheimer's expert & certified dementia care trainer.  Complimentary refreshments and raffle drawing