About the Workshop
About this live event
This 1-hour continuing education workshop satisfies the Illinois Alzheimer's disease and other dementias training requirement under Section 1130.550 of the Illinois Administrative Code. Participants will review the diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, including recognition of common signs and symptoms, effective communication strategies, person-centered care approaches, behavioral symptom management, care planning, and resources that support individuals with dementia and their caregivers. The workshop emphasizes practical, evidence-informed strategies that mental health clinicians can apply in clinical practice.
Learning Objectives
Describe the major types of dementia, identify stages of disease progression, and recognize common cognitive, behavioral, psychological, and functional symptoms.
Apply evidence-based communication strategies and therapeutic approaches that support activities of daily living while promoting autonomy and dignity.
Develop non-pharmacological interventions for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and recommend environmental modifications that promote safety.
Design person-centered interventions and meaningful activities that enhance quality of life for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
Recognize the impact of grief and ambiguous loss on individuals living with dementia, family members, and caregivers, and identify therapeutic strategies to support adjustment.
Learning Levels
Beginner: No previous training on this topic required.
Target Audience
This educational activity is intended for behavioral health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, and MFT's.
Course Instructors
 | Sam Hardy, LMFTLicensed Marriage and Family Therapist |
Sam Hardy (LMFT) was born and raised in sunny Los Angeles, receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in Individuals, Societies, & Aging and Forensics & Criminality from the University of Southern California. She completed her graduate education at Northwestern University as a therapist-in-training at the Family Institute, earning a Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Sam has considerable experience working with older adults experiencing aging challenges and end of life concerns and enjoys supporting older individuals as they process past trauma and combat senior loneliness. Because her clinical training is rooted in an Integrative Systemic Therapy (IST) approach, she enjoys drawing from a variety of therapy models including Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She is also the previous Director of Social Media for Dr. Alexandra Solomon’s global brand and a portrait photographer in the Los Angeles area!
Disclosure
DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity ― including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).
The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity’s planners, faculty, and the reviewer:
PLANNERS AND REVIEWER
The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.
FACULTY
The faculty of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.