Upcoming Events

H.A.N.D. (Helping the Aging, Needy & Disabled) is having the “Roaring Twenties” Casino Night Gala and Silent Auction, Thurs. Sept. 24th at the Mexican American Cultural Center from 7pm to 11pm, tickets are $55 per person. You may contact Karen Christensen @ 477-3796 #215.

18th Annual Austin Memory Walk on October 10, 2009 at the Alzheimer’s Association. This critical fundraiser and awareness event supports research and resources for families, caregivers, and individuals affected by this disease in 17 central Texas counties. Over 1,000 Austinites will participate in the walk through Austin in support of the Capital of Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and we invite you to be one of them, either through corporate sponsorship or team formation. Team members gather donations through community fundraising and a user-friendly website leading up to Memory Walk and participate as a group the day of the event. Lead sponsors at the $5,000 level receive a banner and exhibit table at the event, their logo on chapter and event websites, and their prominent logo on the event t-shirt and flyer. Donations to the Alzheimer’s Association are tax deductible. Thank you in advance for your support! For sponsorship opportunities and additional information, please contact Michaela Morris by phone at (512) 241-0420, ext. 16 or via email at MMorris@TxAlz.org.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we hope you’ll help us honor every person who has been touched by breast cancer by joining our first-ever American Cancer Society Make Strides While Making Breakfast event. Make Strides While Making Breakfast lets you host a breakfast at home, or choose to meet friends at one of your favorite dining spots. It’s as easy as signing up online, making a personal donation of $25, and then asking friends and family to join you. Together you’ll be raising money to support the American Cancer Society’s work to fight breast cancer and create more birthdays by helping people stay well, helping people get well, by finding cures, and fighting back against the disease. Contact the American Cancer Society for more information.

Austin Community College, in partnership with ArrangeCARE PC, will offer Austin’s first-ever Validation® Worker (level one) Certification Course beginning in November 2009. The course, comprising five 2-day course blocks over the coming year, is open to care giving professionals and others who want to improve their ability to relate to and communicate with elders with Alzheimer’s-type dementia and improve the elder’s participation in community life. To earn Certified Validation® Worker status, students must complete five theory/instruction sessions and twenty-six weeks of hands-on practice in the Validation Method of dementia communication and pass final written and practice exams. Each session consists of two full days of instruction, and all practicum work must be documented in writing. Two sessions with clients must be videotaped for evaluation purposes. Continuing education units will be provided for social workers, nurses, licensed chemical dependency counselors and are being requested for certified care managers and certified guardians. The course will be taught by Vicki de Klerk-Rubin, B.A., M.B.A., C.V.M., an International Validation® Master who is a Registered Nurse (Dutch Equivalent) and the European Manager of the Validation® Training Institute. Tuition is $1000 (not including text book). To register, call 512-223-7542 or go online to http://www.austincc.edu/ce/ and register for the course SCWK 1075 100 97254 Validation Worker Certification.

Naomi Feil Validation® Method Workshop Naomi Feil, M.S, A.C.S.W., C.V.M., Executive Director of the Validation® Training Institute, will return to Austin on Nov. 4, 2009 to present a one-day introductory workshop on the Validation® Method, developed over her lifetime of working with persons who have Alzheimer’s-type dementia. Validation® enhances the quality of care given to elders with dementia. It improves caregiver morale and dedication and interpersonal relationships as well. Validation® enhances the quality of care given to elders with dementia. It improves caregiver morale and dedication and interpersonal relationships as well. Validation® is for family members, activity directors, aides, nurses, social workers, administrators, clergy, mail carriers, law enforcement officers, I.e., anyone in frequent contact with disoriented elders and their caregivers. For more information about Validation®, visit www.vfvalidation.org. The workshop, hosted by Gray Panthers of Austin with the support of a number of community sponsors, will be held from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2009 at the Norris Conference Center, 2525 West Anderson Lane #365, Austin, TX 78758. To receive a registration form, email graypanthers@grandecom.net or phone 512-458-3738 and leave your contact information, preferably email. Registration fees are $25 for family members, nurse’s aides, and students; $50 for activity directors; and $75 for nurses, social workers, and activity directors. Continuing education credits (6) are approved for nurses and social workers and are being requested for facility administrators.