Home Duke Caregiver Community Event In-Person Duke Caregiver Community Event

Event Agenda

September 5, 2024

8:00 am - 4:30 pm (EST)

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Presentations at the Duke Caregiver Community Event will inform and educate you about your options for support from Duke Health and in the community.

Click each timeframe below to find information about presentations and resources available to you on September 5, 2024.

Register for Our In-Person Conference

Registration for family caregivers costs $15 (lunch and all event-day activities included) or $10 if you wish to have lunch on your own. Professionals can attend for $75.

Register Here

General Attendees

Keynote Presentation & Opening Session

Unconditional: When Minds Hurt, Love Heals

Speaker: Richard Lui, Director, MSNBC Reporter and Anchor

  • Enjoy a first look at this powerful new documentary, Unconditional, which shows the emotional impact caregivers face when a loved one is dealing with an illness. A delicate unpacking of the complicated feelings attached to tending to an ill family member, the documentary lends a deeper insight into the saying that life can only be understood backward, though it must be lived forward. Join us for a screening and keynote following two families in their caregiving journey.

    The film was directed by MSNBC reporter and anchor Richard Lui, and executive produced by Maria Shriver, Montel Williams, Lauren Miller Rogen, and Laurie Hernandez. Immediately following the viewing, we will have an open dialog with the movie director and film lead, Richard Lui.

Nurturing the Caregiver:  Finding Joy in Your Journey

Facilitators: Maria Geary and Danelle McDonald

  • Caregivers are invited to participate in a guided journal exercise meant to uplift and bring encouragement.

Medications for Treating Mental and Behavioral Symptoms in People with Dementia

Speaker: Kim G. Johnson, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Duke University

  • This session will review medications that are often prescribed to treat cognitive and behavioral symptoms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy Body dementia, and vascular dementia. New anti-amyloid medications used for Alzheimer's disease will be reviewed. 

Encouraging the Heart of a Caregiver: Strategies for Finding Rest

Speaker: Rich Gwaltney, Regional Director, Corporate Chaplains of America

  • Managing the stress of caring for a loved one can easily lead to burnout for both the personal and professional caregiver. In this session we will identify risk factors, available resources, and explore proven strategies to help caregivers find the rest and strength needed for their caregiving journey.

Lessons Learned from Family Caregivers: A Candid Conversation

Facilitator: Natalie Leary, MSW, LCSW, Social Worker, Duke Dementia Family Support Program

  • Family care partners will share their advice, observations, and wisdom gained from caring for a loved one. 

Getting It Right: Legal Tools for Incapacity and Death

Speakers: Attorneys Mark O. Costley and Jonathan D. Williams, Clarity Legal Group

  • Learn about legal issues and tools related to incapacity and death, including estate planning tools such as powers of attorney, health care directives, wills, and trusts. Additionally, this session will discuss the role of guardianship and why it should be avoided if possible, and planning for eligibility for long-term care benefits such as Medicaid.

Durham Divas and a Dude

  • Enjoy lunch with a live performance by Durham Divas and a Dude Entertainment. Led by the dynamic 73-year-old Dr. Louise Gooche, this unique senior cheer squad promises to deliver lighthearted fun, showcasing their vibrant spirit and zest for life.

Navigating Loss as a Caregiver

Speaker: Kristen Register Lakis, MDiv, LCSW, Assistant Director, Duke University Health System Employee Experience

  • In this interactive session, learn more about the losses often experienced while caring for a loved one and how to navigate it day-to-day. 

Laughter Yoga: Laughter as Medicine

Speaker: Lisa Levine, Senior Director of Programs, Dementia Alliance of North Carolina

  • In this session, we will laugh together even if it is difficult to find the blessing in the mess. Laughter Yoga combines laughter exercises with yoga breathing. It is a unique concept where anyone can laugh for no reason, without relying on humor, jokes, or comedy.

Medicare Fraud: Are You Prepared To Protect Your Benefits?

Speaker: Stephanie Bias, North Carolina Senior Medicare Patrol Program Coordinator

  • Each year, $68 billion is lost to Medicare fraud. Learn how to protect yourself and your Medicare benefits. In this session, we’ll explore how fraud happens and how to prevent significant losses. Hear about the latest scams, the importance of securing your Medicare number, and how to check your statements for accuracy. Plus, learn how to report suspected fraud, errors, waste, and abuse. 

Navigating Long-Term Care from a Public Advocate's Perspective

Speakers: Aimee Kepler and Autumn Cox,  Regional Ombudmsans, Central Pines Regional Council

  • Learn about the types of long-term care and where to start with the placement process. During this session, speakers will review the admission process, payment options, how to handle conflict and problem reporting, and answer audience questions.
     

When Medicine Meets Humanism: Through the Eyes of Dementia

Speaker: Timothy Ihrig, MD, Ihrig MD & Associates

  • In this session, palliative care doctor, Timothy Ihrig, MD, shares his personal experience with Alzheimer’s dementia as a physician and as a caregiver to his mother who had the disease. Learn more about dementia and the unique challenges it presents for those who are sick and the ones who care for them.

Navigating Loss as a Caregiver

Speaker: Kristen Register Lakis, MDiv, LCSW, Assistant Director, Duke University Health System Employee Experience

  • In this interactive session, learn more about the losses often experienced while caring for a loved one and how to navigate it day-to-day.

Laughter Yoga: Laughter as Medicine

Speaker: Lisa Levine, Senior Director of Programs, Dementia Alliance of North Carolina

  • In this session, we will laugh together even if it is difficult to find the blessing in the mess. Laughter Yoga combines laughter exercises with yoga breathing. It is a unique concept where anyone can laugh for no reason, without relying on humor, jokes, or comedy.

Navigating the Medicare Maze

Speaker: Rhonda Narron, Southeast Regional Manager, Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP); North Carolina Department of Insurance

  • In this session, get answers to your Medicare questions.  Understand the difference between Medicare Advantage plans and original Medicare, why you might want a supplement plan, and learn about Medicare Part D.  

Navigating Long-Term Care from a Public Advocate's Perspective

Speakers: Aimee Kepler and Autumn Cox,  Regional Ombudmsans, Central Pines Regional Council

  • Learn about the types of long-term care and where to start with the placement process. During this session, speakers will review the admission process, payment options, how to handle conflict and problem reporting, and answer audience questions.
     

When Medicine Meets Humanism: Through the Eyes of Dementia

Speaker: Timothy Ihrig, MD, Ihrig MD & Associates

  • In this session, palliative care doctor, Timothy Ihrig, MD, shares his personal experience with Alzheimer’s dementia as a physician and as a caregiver to his mother who had the disease. Learn more about dementia and the unique challenges it presents for those who are sick and the ones who care for them.

 

Professional Attendees

In support of improving patient care, Duke University Health System Clinical Education and Professional Development is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), to provide continuing education for the health care team. The designation was based on the quality of the educational activity and its compliance with the standards and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). 

Total Credits: 6.0 for all except IACET which is 0.6
Credit types: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s), ANCC, Attendance, IACET CEU, JA Credit – AH

The Spirituality of Caregiving

Speaker: Carl W. Kenney II, Assistant Professor of Practice, Hussman School of Journalism and Media at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 

  • Author of "My Daddy’s Promise: Lessons Learned Through Caregiving," Carl W. Kenney II, shares how the bond between caregiver and care receiver forms and transforms relationships. This session will discuss the evolution of the relationship between caregivers and care receivers and how listening, learning, and sharing build trust and respect.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Future of Health Care

Speaker: Eric Poon, MD MPH FACMI, Chief Health Information Officer, Duke Health

  • This session will review key types of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and how they could be used in health care. Dr. Poon will also review how to ensure AI is used responsibly and invite participants to envision how AI could be applied to their daily work.

Hospice 101: Helping Your Patients Make the Most of the Hospice Benefit

Speaker: David Fisher, MD, MPH, Medical Director of Duke HomeCare & Hospice

  • David Fisher, MD, medical director of Duke Homecare and Hospice, will present a detailed overview of hospice care and its benefits. Learn how patients qualify for hospice, which patients are appropriate for referral, what services are provided, how to maintain relationships with patients in hospice care, and how to appropriately present the option of hospice to qualified patients.

Alzheimer's Advocacy in the Era of Treatment: The Invaluable Impact Your Voice Can Have

Speaker: Lindsey Golden, Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Manager

  • Learn what role you can play in federal and state advocacy and public health efforts concerning Alzheimer's disease. This session will cover topics such as the BOLD and Healthy Brain Initiative, advocacy, and current research regarding drugs and treatments. 

On-Site Activities

Resource and Exhibit Hall

  • Visit our expansive exhibit hall to interact with representatives from 100+ organizations, gather information, and discover tools that can assist in every aspect of caregiving. From medical supplies to homecare options, support groups, and new places to call home, it’s all here under one roof.

Creating A Safe Space (8:00 am - 3:00 pm)

Demonstration Area

  • Aging and living with chronic illness can cause challenges for mobility as well as increase an older adult's risk of falling. The Duke Caregiver Community Event will feature a before-and-after demonstration of how to modify an older adult’s living space, remove potential hazards, and make a safer environment. Home modification professionals and physical and occupational therapists will be present to talk about common household hazards and how they can be eliminated or modified to reduce the risk of falling.

Virtual Dementia Tour (8:00 am - 3:30 pm)

Spring Arbor Senior Living

  • The Virtual Dementia Tour™ is an up-close, hands-on experience to help caregivers better understand some of the seemingly inappropriate and, at times difficult, behaviors exhibited by those with dementia. Attendees of the Virtual Dementia Tour™ will gain a greater understanding of dementia through the use of patented sensory tools and instruction. 

Hands-only CPR (8:00 am - 3:00 pm)

Tracy Stell, BSN, RN, CNML, Clinical Nurse Educator, Duke Health Life Support Training Center Coordinator 

  • Learn how to perform hands-only CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). You'll also learn how to recognize a stroke or heart attack and how to help.

DukeWELL-ness Clinic (8:00 am - 4:00 pm)

  • Experience a quick and comprehensive 15-minute wellness visit at our clinic. Our dedicated team will assess vital aspects of your health, including blood pressure, A1C levels, heart health, and vision, and even provide flu vaccinations through Walgreens Pharmacy. 


    We extend our gratitude to DukeWELL, Duke M-PACT Clinic, Durham Tech Mobile Health Lab, Duke Imaging, Duke Primary Care, and El Centro Hispano for their valuable time and contributions to making our clinic possible. 


    Join us at DukeWELL-ness Clinic to prioritize your well-being in a convenient and efficient manner.

Caregivers: A Labor of Love (8:00 am - 4:30 pm)

By: D Michael Geller, MD, MSW

  • Visit with four caregivers through a sequence of photographs depicting how they approach the care of their loved one in the home. Observe how these caregivers make their way through the day and experience joy on their care journey.

Careers@Duke (8:00 am - 4:30 pm)

Jacqueline Huff, Talent Acquisition Consultant, Duke University Health System Talent Acquisition

Location: Windsor Boardroom

  • Explore career opportunities with Duke HomeCare and Hospice and be part of Duke Health’s compassionate commitment to advancing health. Sign-on bonuses and access to the nursing career ladder can help you advance your career. Jackie will also share how Duke’s Total Rewards Program is designed to support you — both on and off the clock. Drop-in any time during the event or email Jackie to connect Jacqueline.Huff@Duke.edu or schedule a call with her to discuss a career with Duke HomeCare & Hospice.

Dogs with a Purpose (12:40 pm - 1:00 pm)

  • Visit with certified therapy dogs after lunch. Dogs with a Purpose are coming to be part of your wellbeing. The benefits of certified therapy dog visits include facilitating a sense of calm and relaxation as well as lowering anxiety, alleviating loneliness, and even normalizing heart rate and blood pressure.
Watch 2022 Presentations

Get a preview of the type of information you can learn during our event. Archived presentations from the 2022 conference are available for free.

Watch Recordings on YouTube
Learn More

The Duke Caregiver Community Event is made possible by our organizers, sponsors, and exhibitors.