Roseville series aims to help people cope better with Alzheimer’s

By WARREN WOLFE

A series of documentary movies and talks by local experts will offer area residents an opportunity to build skills and confidence as they learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia illnesses.

It is a growing issue as people live longer. About 90,000 Minnesotans have dementia, a number projected to reach 120,000 in 10 years. Overall, one in nine people age 65 and older will develop dementia, rising sharply to one in three among those 85 and older.

The series of talks and movies is sponsored by the Roseville ACT on Alzheimer’s project—part of a statewide ACT program now with 34 volunteer groups working to create “dementia-friendly” communities.

That concept focuses on building awareness, education and skills so that those with dementia can continue to live as independently as possible in their communities, helped by friends, family, neighbors businesses and city services.

The fall program will start Sun., Sept. 20, 1-4pm, with a showing of the HBO documentary “The Alzheimer’s Project: Caregivers,” at Lyngblomsten Care Center, 1415 Almond Ave.

The expert series starts 1-2:30pm, Thur., Oct. 8 at Roseville City Hall, 2660 Civic Center Dr. Neurologist Dr. Michael Rosenbloom, director of the HealthPartners Memory Clinic in St. Paul, will talk about “Understanding Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease.”

Other talks will be:

—Oct. 15, neuro-psychologist Dr. Sonia Mosch of the HealthPartners Memory Clinic, “Testing for Dementia: Diagnosis to Treatment and Real World Implications”;

—Oct. 22, Deb Nygaard of Arthur’s Residential Care in Roseville, “Practical Tips for Avoiding Power Struggles”; and

—Oct. 29, Catherine Engstrom of Wilder Foundation Caregiver Services, “Caregiver Stress/Burnout (Taking Care of You).”

Finally, two documentaries showing how the arts help those with dementia will be presented at Lyngblomsten from 1-4pm on two Sundays. Nov. 1 will be the screening of “Alive Inside,” about the power of music to tap stored memories. Nov. 15, “I Remember Better When I Paint” will be shown.

All events are free and open to the public, and will include time for audience questions.

Warren Wolfe is a former reporter for the Star Tribune, where he wrote about aging and health care issues for more than 20 years. He is retired and is active with the Roseville Alzheimer’s and Dementia Community Action Team.