### Education in Person vs. Online **By Marilucy Lopes, Manager of Education**
The telephone number of your favorite take-out restaurant. Your doctor’s office address. Tomorrow’s weather. All this information can be found on the internet. Obtaining this information is quick, convenient, and (often quite literally) in the palm of your hands if you own a smartphone. Information about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can be accessed through the internet too — through websites, journals, articles, web links, and more. For many reasons, the internet is an educational tool with immense value. Not only can you learn about the basics of dementia, read about warning signs and common symptoms, but in your quest for information, you can also find questions asked and comments posted by millions of individuals throughout the world, who are searching for information about dementia or Alzheimer’s, just like you. So, you might wonder why attending an educational seminar at CaringKind would be helpful, when information about dementia can be found online?

Not all information found online is accurate information, and when it comes to dementia and Alzheimer’s, a disease that impacts the brain, it’s important to be sure you’re getting the information from experts in the field, such as staff at CaringKind. While it can be helpful to use the internet to search for an answer to a question such as, “What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?” There are many questions that need specialized attention in order to be answered properly. By attending an educational seminar at CaringKind, a person gets to learn why one of the most important elements of Alzheimer’s and dementia care, is about personalized knowledge on how the disease will impact the individual with Alzheimer’s or dementia, and how it will impact the caregiver’s life too. With online forums, what works for one person’s situation and life, won’t necessarily be the best option for your needs.

CaringKind provides answers to questions about dementia and Alzheimer’s, but more importantly, helps you learn what you can do, when education can only go so far. To understand dementia, is to understand that there will be limits to answers for every question. This is because with no current prevention or cure for Alzheimer’s and related dementias, it is natural that some questions will remain unanswered. CaringKind has specifically developed our educational seminars to address the unknown areas of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. For example, our Understanding Dementia Seminar will provide you with the most accurate information about the disease process, different stages, and current medications in a clear, concise, and organized way. Many caregivers will come to the seminar with a sense of what the disease is based on information they read online, only to discover some of the information they read was not accurate, or did not apply to their personal situation.

CaringKind provides answers for caregivers or individuals who want to learn more about dementia, and does so in a person-centered way. CaringKind understands that in addition to dementia, all aspects of a person, such as their personality, history, likes and dislikes, are important to understanding how to support a person. CaringKind education provides accurate information, and takes into account your personal experience, which in many ways will protect you from coming across rumors or false information that can be scattered throughout the web.

Through our 24-hour Helpline, callers are given the opportunity to register for any of our free educational seminars and can attend them as often as needed.

In addition to the Understanding Dementia seminar mentioned previously, family members and friends can also learn about other issues impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, such as the financial, social, emotional, and physical changes which can occur in our other seminars. Other seminars include the Legal and Financial Seminar, Medicaid Home Care Seminar, Placing your Relative in a Nursing Home Seminar, and lastly, a Monthly Educational Seminar which hosts various topics, based on subjects caregivers want to learn more about.

Information about these seminars are available on our website, at
www.caringkindnyc.org/education, but remember, to reap the benefits of in-person education by signing up for these seminars via our 24-hour Helpline at 646-744-2900.

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