May 9 & 10, 2009

10:00am—5:00pm
Exhibition Park, Halifax

Free Admission! www.atlanticcaregiver.com

Main Stage Presentations arranged by Caregivers Nova Scotia Association

Saturday, May 9 The Medication Review Program __________________________

10:30 am to 11:15 am (MRP) is a joint project of the Saturday, May 9
Who is Taking Care?: Accessing Nova Scotia Department of 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm
Primary Health Care and Support Health and the Pharmacy Nova Scotia Pharmacare
for Dementia Caregivers Association of Nova Scotia. Programs
By Deborah Kiceniuk, PhD Michelle is the Program Manager. By Ann Foran, Director Nova
She will describe the program, Scotia Medavie Blue Cross
The main objective of the who can qualify, the purpose of a
Transdisciplinary Primary Care review and how to schedule a Did you know that the Nova
for Caregivers Project is to review. Scotia government has two
generate knowledge about issues __________________________ programs that help with the cost
concerning primary health care Saturday, May 9 of medications? The Seniors
and support for caregivers of 12:30 pm to 1:15 pm Pharmacare program and its
individuals affected by Alzheimer Research Study: Involuntary Re- newer cousin, Family Phar-
Disease and related dementias. tirement due to Caregiving macare, will be described in this
This talk will provide a summary Responsibilities informative presentation. Learn
of the project’s progress to date By Aine Humble, PhD how to determine which program
highlighting some of the key is right for you if you are a
preliminary findings from the Ed note: details were unavailable senior. If you are not a senior,
family caregiver perspective. at press time. Please go to learn if you should apply for
The discussion will then turn to www.caregiversns.org for more Family Pharmacare.
an overview of the information in early May. __________________________
services that caregivers are __________________________ Saturday, May 9
currently accessing in primary Saturday, May 9 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm
and community care and the 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm Adult Day Programs
barriers they perceive or have Registered Disability Savings Plan By Thia Rutledge, Supervisor
experienced in accessing this By Michelle Morgan-Coole, A Adult Day Program, Oakwood
care. This study has been jointly Primer on Special Needs and the Terrace
funded by the Alzheimer Society Law
of Canada and the Canadian Thia is an executive member
Nurses Foundation. The RDSP is a new long term of the newly formed Adult Day
__________________________ savings program for people with Program Association of Nova
Saturday, May 9 disabilities. Michelle is a non- Scotia. In this presentation she
11:30 am to 12:15 pm practicing lawyer and parent to will describe the different types of
Medication Review Program two children with special needs Adult Day Programs and
By Michele Lycett BSc. Pharm; who will share her hands-on who can benefit. She will also ex-
Certified Diabetes Educator experience with setting up a plain the services available
Pharmacist/Owner, Bridgetown Registered Disability Savings in HRM and the rest of
Pharmasave Plan. Nova Scotia.

Did you know that you might Michelle blogs at

qualify for a free review of your www.specialneeds-
medications by a pharmacist? ns.blogspot.com
Caregiver Expo Main Stage Presentations (page 2)
_________________________
Sunday, May 10
10:30 am to 11:15 am
Demystifying Mental Health
Services and Supports
By Stephen Ayer, Executive
Director, Schizophrenia Society
of Nova Scotia
Families, friends, and other
supporters of individuals
diagnosed with a mental illness
can quickly become over-
whelmed by the complexity of
mental health services and
supports in Nova Scotia. Diffi-
cult situations can arise when
an individual, commonly
a young adult, starts to exhibit
signs and symptoms of psycho-
sis and supporters of these
individuals often do not know
where to turn for help. Addition-
ally, the mental health system
is only now recognizing the
importance of families as
partners in mental health care.
This presentation will address
how to best access mental
health services and supports in
Nova Scotia, not only for your
loved one, but for yourself.
_________________________
Sunday, May 10
11:30 am to 12:15 pm
The ABC’s of Long-term Care
Insurance
By Anne Sullivan, Desjardins
Financial Security
The purpose of long-term care
insurance is to help pay the cost
of care either in a nursing home
or at home. It can give families
options when choosing the type
of care and where it will be
provided. Anne is a nurse who
uses her healthcare background
to explain the ABC’s of long-
term care insurance.
_________________________ Canadian Centre for Activity and
Sunday, May 10 Aging, has shown how simple
12:30pm to 1:15pm exercises at home can improve
Continuing Care 101 seniors' strength and balance,
By Alyson Currie, Caregiver thereby reducing the risk of fal-
Support Coordinator ling.
_________________________
This workshop is designed to Sunday, May 10
help you navigate the Continu- 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm
ing Care system in Nova Scotia. Care for the Caregiver
Topics will include: What the By Alyson Currie, Caregiver
continuing care system is . How Support Coordinator
to access services and when
accessing them may be neces- This workshop is designed to
sary. What types of in-home help you, the caregiver, look
services are available. How the after yourself. Topics Will
long term care placement proc- include: Information on the
ess works and what to expect impact of caregiving on you
when applying for long term and your life, both positive
care. and negative. Ways to help
_________________________ alleviate some of the negative
Sunday, May 10 impacts of caregiving. Tips to
1:30 pm to 2:15 pm help you through the difficult
"Staying Independent Through times and times of crisis.
Falls Prevention" Information on resources
by Hilda Gmyz, member of the available to assist you in your
HRM Preventing Falls Together coping and caregiving activities.
Coalition _________________________
Sunday, May 10
Hilda will speak about the 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm
practical ways that seniors and The Basics of Estate Planning
family members can reduce the By Sanaz Gerami, LL.B. &
risk of falling. After a brief in- Sharon Reashore, LL.B.
troduction to the issue of falls
among seniors, Hilda will offer This workshop provides a
some tips and suggestions general overview of Wills,
about how we can reduce the Powers of Attorney and Health
risk of falling by simple changes Care Directives (“Living Wills”).
in our personal habits and home We will discuss why it is impor-
surroundings. From her experi- tant to have these in place
ence as Community Health sooner than later and give tips
Equipment Loan Coordinator for talking to your care recipient
with the Canadian Red Cross, about estate planning and who
Hilda will touch on the impor- to go to for help.
tance of using assistive devices
like canes and walkers in the Go to
prevention of falls. Hilda will www.CaregiversNS.org
end the session with a demon-
stration of some simple
for Expo information or
call 421-7390 or 1-877-
exercises from the Home
Support Exercise Program. This 488-7390.
program, developed by the