Dementia in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

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$10 fee to view. Dr. Ronald Lucchino, Ph.D. President of the Board for the Southwest Florida Area Agency on Aging, gives a comprehensive overview of dementia. In this webinar he describes behaviors and symptoms of dementia, the different types and risk factors to miss-diagnosing an adult with an intellectual disability with dementia. Examples will be given to show the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia in adults with IDD as opposed to the general population.

What’s For Dinner? Planning for Success in Healthy Eating

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$10 fee to view. In this webinar you will learn ways to set everyone up for success in maintaining a healthy diet in a person-centered way. Healthy eating and informed choices start with the people we support. At the end of this webinar participants will be able to demonstrate the “choose 3” method of balancing a meal, creating a planning system for meals, and infusing person-centered practices into the menu planning process.

Creating Resiliency in Families Living with FASD: Moving from Grief to Empowerment 

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$10 to view. Families that are raising children with effects from prenatal alcohol exposure, known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) oftentimes find themselves having to become experts on the topic. They often have to educate their health care providers, educators, counselors, and others that provide treatment and support for their loved ones. It is easy for these families to burn out and fall into a feeling of helplessness or despair. Kathy Mitchell, Vice President and National Spokesperson for the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) reviews some of the behavioral characteristics of individuals with FASD through the lifespan and discusses how families are also affected through the lifespan. She reviews the stages of denial and grief often experienced by family members, focusing on the importance of self-care for parents and caretakers. She also provides suggestions on how to deal with stress and develop a positive mindset that can allow families to move from grief and frustration to a place of acceptance. Current resources and supports are provided that are available for individuals and family members with FASD.

Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Dementia; Assessment and Healthcare Practices

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$10 fee to view. Adults with IDD are aging and living longer than ever. Decline in their daily function with the possibility of developing dementia increases with age, especially in adults with Down syndrome. Seth Keller, MD Immediate Past President of the AADMD and Co-Chair of the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices reviews how changes in function can be assessed so that an accurate and early diagnosis of dementia can be determined. Health care advocacy and practices are all essential in ensuring that appropriate therapies and planning for eventual decline and associated complications are anticipated and cared for. The guidelines of the National Task Group is also be reviewed.

Putting Nutrition on Your Radar 

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It is very easy to get caught up in modern day diet fads, juice cleanses, etc. and not know what or who to believe anymore. Judith Dodd, MS, RD, LDN is a registered dietician and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh. She provides an update on current nutrition/diet guidelines to help put nutrition back on your radar. Judith takes an in-depth look at the facts versus fallacies to divulge what’s true and expose what’s not. Choosing the healthier option in the grocery store can often times be difficult and mislead. Judith also provides us with tips on food selection and guidelines to help make grocery shopping healthier and easier. Resources to healthy eating and nutrition for the future are also supplied. Learn the facts of how to have a healthy diet without all the hassle!

Oral Health, Disease, and Prevention 

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Dennis McTigue DDS, MS, a professor of Pediatric Dentistry at Ohio State University’s College of Dentistry, speaks about the causes of dental diseases and the preventative methods/techniques to take that will help to reduce this epidemic. Poor oral hygiene is prevalent in a vast amount of individuals with IDD due to various factors; however dental decay and disease can be avoided with the knowledge of good oral hygiene practices. Dennis focuses on the more common oral health issues facing people with disabilities and routine tricks about how to motivate individuals to maintain good oral health. Dennis also provides resources and supports for ways to seek out necessary treatments in your community.

Barriers to Physical Activity in Individuals With IDD

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Dr. James Rimmer, Director of the Lakeshore Foundation/University of Alabama at Birmingham Research Collaborative, speaks on the different barriers and improvements in physical activity in individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD). He has been developing and overseeing physical activity programs for people with disabilities for over 30 years. Many studies have found that being overweight is highly prevalent in adults with IDD. He explores factors that play a role in reduced physical activity and discuss lifestyle choices and organizational change to improve the health of people with IDD.

Women’s Health Issues Over a Lifespan 

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Dr. Suzanne Smeltzer RN, EdD, FAAN, a Professor and Director for the Center for Nursing Research at Villanova University’s College of Nursing, speaks about the health issues affecting women with disabilities throughout their lifespan. She touches on the more common age-related issues, such as osteoporosis, which is highly prevalent in woman with disabilities due to factors such as by immobility, use of antiepileptics, lower bone mineral density, and bone loss. She also discusses the regular health screenings that all woman need to maintain throughout their lives and the importance behind these necessary screenings, including breast health/check-ups, pap smears, and gynecology visits.

Weight Loss for Individuals with Disabilities

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Expert guest speakers Richard and Muriel Saunders from the University of Kansas speaks on effective weight loss plans in overweight adults with disabilities. This webinar will go into detail about methods, results, and lessons learned in creating an effective weight loss program. These research-based programs have been proven to have great success in helping people with disabilities to keep the weight off and decrease obesity-prone health disparities. Richard and Muriel discuss barriers to eating healthy and strategies to increase consciousness of making healthier long-term eating decisions and how to track that progress.