Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Calendar of Educational Opportunities

Are you interested in presenting at our annual conference on Alzheimer disease & related dementias or Celebrating the CNA conference?

Our educational mission

The Center for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield is the state-designated Regional Alzheimer Disease Center, and has been recognized as a Parkinson Disease Center of Excellence for the 93 Illinois counties outside the Chicago area. One of the missions of the Center is to provide support and education to professionals caring for patients with dementia and Parkinson disease. Around 400 educational presentations, training workshops and conferences are offered to health care professionals and family caregivers each year. In addition, the Center sponsors ongoing education for staff of long term care facilities and organizations providing in-home care. Using the Alzheimer Primary Provider sites designated by the Center and the Illinois Department of Public Health, two networks have been developed in primarily rural areas.

Dementia Caregiver Networks

SPRINGFIELD

• The Dementia Caregiver Network originated at the Center for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in 1995 as a means facilitating education, problem solving and networking among professionals involved in the care of people with Alzheimer disease and/or other dementias. Membership to the Network is free and open to anyone interested in working with others to improve and support caring for persons with a dementia.

Within the Network, groups of professionals have formed "focus groups," meeting periodically to discuss specific issues related to dementia caregiving. Currently the Education & Training focus group is still meeting on a regular basis. The Education & Training group develops an annual conference entitled "Celebrating the CNA"  to be held in Springfield on October 25, 2006 and recognizes special CNAs who make a difference in the life of a person with a dementia.  To nominate an exceptional caregiver, click here for the nomination form. The Network as a whole meets several times a year. These meetings involve educational presentations and reports from the Network's focus groups. Contact person: Greg Kyrouac (217) 545-7199.

• The Dementia Network formed in the fall of 1996 after the success of the Network in Springfield. This group has developed into a working committee of about 20-30 individuals, some of whom are volunteer Alzheimer Support Group leaders in Illinois for the St. Louis Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. The group usually meets at the St. John's United Church of Christ in Collinsville. Contact person:  Jocelyn Damper, Alzheimer's Association (800) 980-9080.