Family caregiver support group to feature dementia care expert Teepa Snow 

Snow is an occupational therapist with almost 40 years of clinical experience in caring for and supporting people living with various forms of dementia. Her session will focus on her “Positive Approach to Care®”, which she developed to guide others in delivering better care and support for those living with changing abilities.

According to her website (www.teepasnow.com), “Teepa Snow’s philosophy and education is reflective of her life-long journey professionally caring for and personally supporting people living with various forms of dementia. This person-centered approach evolved to meet the complex and unique needs of individuals using an effective and structured technique.”

Support group sessions throughout 2021

Snow’s talk is part of Isa’s ongoing online support groups for family caregivers of persons with dementia in collaboration with the UOG School of Health’s Guam/Micronesia Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program. The sessions will be held year-round in 2021 at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and 10 a.m. on Saturdays in the first and third weeks of each month.

This month’s groups will be held at the following times:

• Wednesday, Feb. 3 (6 p.m. – 8 p.m.)
• Saturday, Feb. 6 (10 a.m. – Noon)
• Wednesday, Feb. 17 (6 p.m. – 8 p.m.)
• Saturday, Feb. 20 (10 a.m. – 12 p.m.) – featuring Teepa Snow, M.S., OTR/L, FAOTA

The sessions are free of charge to partners, family members, and other caregivers of persons with dementia throughout Micronesia. The support groups will be conducted remotely on Zoom during the pandemic.

What to expect
All support groups are client-centered and confidential. They provide a safe place to share the stresses and challenges, successes, and rewards of caring for a loved one with dementia with others who may be going through similar experiences. They also provide a forum for caregivers to participate in presentations led by health care professionals and other community members with expertise in caring for persons with dementia.

The support groups are facilitated by clinical psychologist Dr. Iain Twaddle of Isa Psychological Services Center; Health Services of the Pacific social worker Rhoda Orallo, who holds a master’s in social work; and Isa counselors Nikolas Gutierrez, who holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and Vanessa Veloria, who holds a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology.

Sign up to participate
To attend a family caregiver online support group, use the following Zoom links:

• Wednesday Support Group (6 p.m. – 8 p.m.): https://zoom.us/j/92072878067
• Saturday Support Group (10 a.m. – Noon): https://zoom.us/j/91243370958

or call or email Dr. Iain Twaddle or Nikolas Gutierrez at (671) 735-2883 or isa@triton.uog.edu or Rhoda Orallo at (671) 735-3277 or nfcspmgr@teleguam.net.

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