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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church becomes certified Dementia Friendly
Hernando, FL., February 11, 2017 – More than 30 members of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, located at 439 E. Norvell Bryant Highway in Hernando, Florida, have completed the ABC of Dementia Workshop, enabling the church to become certified Dementia Friendly.
The workshop, conducted by Debbie Selsavage, President of Coping with Dementia LLC, includes training in how to recognize dementia behaviors and how to better communicate with individuals living with the disease. Selsavage explained, “When we understand what a person with dementia is thinking and feeling, we can better accommodate their needs and keep them active and social longer. This is important to their quality of life.”
Stacy Bahner, who organized the workshop as a member of Good Shepherd’s Nurse Ministry.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is the seventh church in Citrus County to have become certified Dementia Friendly.

Inverness, FL; June 10, 2016 –
Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiver support groups have enthusiastically stepped up to take an important role in the distribution of Human Scent Preservation Kits throughout Citrus County.

Early in June, Linda Boles, President of the Crystal River-based Find-M Friends, a non-profit organization that promotes the training and use of scent-discriminating Bloodhounds in cooperation with law enforcement agencies to locate people lost and at risk, announced that as many as a thousand “Scent Kits” will be distributed free of charge to elders with memory care issues, thanks to a generous grant from the Black Diamond Foundation.

Because Human Scent Preservation Kits are so effective in tracing elders with memory issues who have wandered and become lost, Find-M’ Friends has chosen the Inverness-based Coping with Dementia LLC to partner in the task of distributing the kits. Boles states, “Coping with Dementia has extensive resources in the memory care community and will be working with us to get kits into the hands of dementia caregivers as rapidly as possible.”

Debbie Selsavage, President of Coping with Dementia and a support group leader for the Alzheimer’s Family Organization, has set up meetings with support groups throughout the county. She reports, “The response has been gratifying. These people, who have dealt with dementia on a personal level, understand the importance of using this simple device to keep their loved ones safe. They are taking kits for themselves, and for others they know who are dementia caregivers.”

Pictured here, Selsavage meets with an Alzheimer’s Association support group in Floral City, Florida.
For additional information and a list of distribution locations, call Boles at 352-613-3486 or e-mail found@findmfriends.org; or call Debbie Selsavage at 352-422-3663 or e-mail deb@coping.today.

Crystal River, FL; June 1, 2016 — Linda Boles, President of the Crystal River-based Find-M Friends, a non-profit organization that promotes the training and use of scent-discriminating Bloodhounds in cooperation with law enforcement agencies to locate people lost and at risk, reports that in the coming months as many as a thousand Human Scent Preservation Kits will be distributed free of charge to elders with memory care issues throughout Citrus County.

She explains, “A Human Scent Preservation Kit – or sometimes called a ‘scent kit’ – is a simple and inexpensive double-walled container that can preserve an individual’s unique scent for up to seven years.” This, she says, can greatly improve the performance and speed of scent-discriminating bloodhounds in tracing individuals who are lost. “Possession and use of a kit can be the difference between life and death,” she asserts; “I have seen it happen.”

Because Human Scent Preservation Kits are so effective in tracing elders with memory issues who have wandered and become lost, Find-M’ Friends has chosen the Inverness-based Coping with Dementia LLC to partner in the task of distributing the kits. Boles states, “Coping with Dementia has extensive resources in the memory care community and will be working with us to get kits into the hands of dementia caregivers as rapidly as possible.”

The two organizations have set up convenient distribution centers throughout the county where kits can be picked up free of charge. Each comes with simple instructions and everything needed for effective use. Available free kits are limited, so interested parties should act as soon as possible.

For additional information and a list of distribution locations, call Boles at 352-613-3486 or e-mail found@findmfriends.org; or call Debbie Selsavage at 352-422-3663 or e-mail deb@coping.today.

Lecanto, FL; June 30 — The Citrus County headquarters for Home Instead Senior Care, located at 4214 Gulf to Lake Hwy in Lecanto, has become the first home health provider in Citrus County to join a campaign to distribute free Human Scent Preservation Kits to the families and caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Home Instead Branch Director Vickie Williams explains, ”Because the majority of the seniors we care for remain at home, we want to provide them with an extra measure of security in the event that they may wander and become lost.”
Usually referred to as a “Scent Kit,” the Human Scent Preservation Kit is a reliable and inexpensive way to capture and retain a pure human scent to assist scent-tracking Bloodhounds in the event that someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia wanders and goes missing.

A thousand kits are currently being distributed to seniors and their caregivers throughout Citrus County by the non-profit Find-M Friends, an organization that trains Bloodhounds to assists law enforcement agencies in the search for individuals who have gone missing; and Coping with Dementia LLC, an organization that provides counseling and care training to families caring for a loved one with dementia. The free kits were made possible by a grant from the Black Diamond Foundation.

Convenient distribution centers have been set up throughout the county where kits can be picked up free of charge. For additional information and a list of distribution locations, call Linda Boles at 352-613-3486 or e-mail found@findmfriends.org; or call Debbie Selsavage at 352-422-3663 or e-mail deb@coping.today.

Pictured receiving Human Scent Preservation Kits for distribution among its clients are Home Instead Director Vickie Williams, Home Care Consultant Jayme Shepherd, and Service Manager Claudette Lansberry. To the right, delivering the kits, is Coping with Dementia LLC President Debbie Selsavage.

Crystal River, FL; June 28, 2016 — The Crystal River Health and Rehabilitation Center, a long-term skilled care and rehabilitation facility located at 136 Northeast 12th Avenue in Crystal River, Florida, has acquired and will distribute Human Scent Preservation Kits to all of its clients in the coming months.

Usually referred to as a “Scent Kit,” the Human Scent Preservation Kit is a reliable and inexpensive way to capture and retain a pure human scent to assist scent-tracking Bloodhounds in the event that someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia wanders and becomes lost.

A thousand kits are currently being distributed to elders and their caregivers throughout Citrus County. The program was made possible by a grant from the Black Diamond Foundation to the non-profit Find-M Friends, an organization that trains Bloodhounds to assist law enforcement agencies in the search for individuals who have gone missing. Find-M Friends President Linda Boles says, “Possession and use of a Scent Kit can be the difference between life and death.”

In joining the Scent Kit distribution campaign, Crystal River Health and Rehab Administrator Peter Misura states, “We are excited to become the first skilled nursing facility in Citrus County to participate in the Scent Kit program by giving a free kit to the families of each of our residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia. In this way, we can participate in their safety even after they have left our care.”

Because Human Scent Preservation Kits are so effective in tracing elders with memory issues who have wandered and become lost, Find-M Friends has partnered with the Inverness-based Coping with Dementia LLC for the distribution of the kits. Coping with Dementia LLC President Debbie Selsavage will provide training to Crystal River Health and Rehab’s staff on proper use of the kits.

Boles and Selsavage have set up distribution centers throughout the county where kits can be picked up free of charge. For additional information and a list of distribution locations, call Boles at 352-613-3486 or e-mail found@findmfriends.org; or call Debbie Selsavage at 352-422-3663 or e-mail deb@coping.today.

Pictured receiving Human Scent Preservation Kits for distribution among its clients are Crystal River Health and Rehabilitation Administrator Peter Misura, Activities Director Linda Marando, and Community Liaison Chris Delgado with Coping with Dementia LLC President Debbie Selsavage.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and Kingsway of Beverly Hills are the 19th and 20th Dementia Friendly-Business in Citrus County

Beverly Hills, FL., November 19, 2015 – With 30 individuals participating in Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiver training this evening, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and Kingsway of Beverly Hills earned certification as Dementia Friendly organizations.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School is located at 6150 N. Lecanto in Beverly Hills. Kingsway of Beverly Hills is a non-profit development company that manages an independent living retirement community under the auspices of the Lutheran Home Association.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Pastor Mark Gabb said, “We provide ministries for all ages, and we are pleased to have hosted this training that will help us better serve our aging population.”

Kingsway’s Sandra Banker added, “A better understanding of Alzheimer’s and dementia care is consistent with our development plans, which will provide more housing and services for elders.”

The training and certification were conducted by Coping with Dementia LLC, an Inverness-based company dedicated to Alzheimer’s and dementia training and awareness.

For more information, go to www.coping.today

Tri-County Hearing certified Dementia Friendly

Beverly Hills, FL, November 12, 2015 – Tri-County Hearing has become the first provider of audiology and hearing aid services in Citrus County to be certified Dementia Friendly.

Tri-County Hearing owner and audioprosthologist David Ditchfield explains, “A recent study from Johns Hopkins has confirmed that hearing loss is an integral aspect of dementia, and that poor hearing may in some cases be a predictor of the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia. This relationship indicates that our company needs to better understand the qualities and behaviors of people with dementia in order to provide a higher level of customer service to our clients and their families.”

Tri-County Hearing is the 18th business in Citrus County to receive training to be certified Dementia Friendly. Located at 3519 North Lecanto Highway in Beverly Hills, Tri-County has provided audiology services for 36 years. Its services include outreach through a mobile testing and screening vehicle. For more information, go to www.tri-county-hearing.com.

Dementia Friendly training for Tri-County Hearing was provided by Coping with Dementia LLC, an Inverness-based company that offers education and training for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. For more information, go to www.coping.today

Seniors Helping Seniors becomes first home companion care company to be certified Dementia Friendly in Florida’s Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco Counties

Inverness, Florida, October 15, 2015 – Today, Seniors Helping Seniors franchises in Citrus, Hernando, and west Pasco Counties became the first companion care company for seniors on the Nature Coast to be certified as Dementia Friendly.

Seniors Helping Seniors home care services match seniors who want to provide compassionate help with seniors who are in need of help. Their caregivers are insured and bonded, and many are retirees from healthcare professions.

Sue Simone, the franchise holder for Citrus, Hernando, and west Pasco Counties, says, “We are proud of the compassion and experience of our care providers, but this training takes them one step higher in their standard of care.” She adds, “Some home companion providers will not accept clients with behavioral problems due to Alzheimer’s and dementia. With Dementia Friendly training we can serve our clients better and keep them longer.”

The Dementia Friendly training was provided by Debbie Selsavage, president of Coping with Dementia LLC, an Inverness-based company.
For more information about Coping with Dementia, go to www.coping.today. For more information about Seniors Helping Seniors, go to https://seniorshelpingseniors.com.

Floral City, August 5, 2015 – With more than 30 of its staff and congregation attending a Dementia-Friendly Workshop on July 29, the Floral City United Methodist Church became the first church in Citrus County to earn a Dementia-Friendly certification. A one-hour workshop provided information on how to recognize individuals suffering from Altzheimer’s and dementia, how they perceive their surroundings, how sensory deprivation contributes to their behavior, and how to work with them to achieve better behavioral results by reducing fear and anxiety.

The workshop was conducted by Debbie Selsavage, President of Coping with Dementia LLC, a company that specializes in education and training for improved dementia care and awareness.

Floral City, August 3, 2015 – With over 50 people in attendance, four more Citrus County businesses and the Floral City United Methodist Church were certified as Dementia-Friendly on July 29, 2015. The workshop was hosted by the Floral City Merchant’s Association and conducted by Coping with Dementia LLC.

Businesses certified include Head-To-Toe by Julie & Jo, Floral City; Justin Case Automotive Repair, Homosassa; Opti-Mart, Inverness; and Lordco’s Pack-Ship-Print, Inc., Inverness. With more than 30 of its staff and congregation in attendance, the Floral City United Methodist Church became the first church in Citrus County to be certified Dementia-Friendly.

The workshop was conducted by Debbie Selsavage, President of Coping with Dementia LLC, a company that specializes in education and training for improved dementia care and awareness.