UK Happenings

UK HR Elder Care to host events for Senior Caregivers Week

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 25, 2022) — University of Kentucky Human Resources Elder Care is hosting two events for Senior Caregivers Week, Nov. 1-3.

The Virtual Dementia Tour runs from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1 and Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Gaines Center for the Humanities/Commonwealth House located at 226 E. Maxwell St.

The tour, a product of Second Wind Dreams, is a simulation that allows participants to experience life through the eyes of someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The simulation helps participants better understand what people with dementia experience on a day-to-day basis. It is not a diagnosis of whether someone has dementia or will develop dementia later in their life.

Two participants will go through the simulation at 15-minute intervals, and there are slots for 26 participants each day.

The simulation will take approximately 30 minutes from start to finish. Participants will need to arrive a few minutes early to receive instruction and acquaint themselves with the surroundings. If participants are late, they may be asked to reschedule for a future simulation date.

Spots are reserved by appointment only. Those wishing to attend can reserve their time here

On Thursday, Nov. 3, an Elder Care lunch and learn session, Sensory Systems and Dementia, will be presented by Elizabeth Rhodus with the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom. Rhodus will discuss the various sensory systems and how sensation and perception are altered with the onset of cognitive impairment. She will provide tips on how to improve communication styles with a loved one; tips to start using right now. 

Sign up for the event here.

For information on Senior Caregivers Week, contact HR Elder Care Specialist Terri-Applegate-Weber at 859-218-0457 or terri.weber@uky.edu.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.