Yes, folks, its nearly spring and that means its time for "Making Sense of Dementia", a free community workshop hosted by me, Frena Gray-Davidson, from 1 to 4 p.m. March 14 at the Ethel BurgerCenter.

Ive been a hands-on Alzheimers and other dementia caregiver for over 20 years now. My boss at the Parks and Rec Department wrote a press release which I am known for being "Irreverent, outspoken and humorous" in my approach to caregiving. I dont know where she got that from, doyou?

Its true I like people with dementia a lot and theyre fine with me if they have dementia. The first person I ever looked after, in Berkeley, Calif., was fine with me. She was a 79-year-old German-Jewish refugee who become an American citizen. At the age of 64, having raised her children and becoming a widow, she went to university for the firsttime.

She got her masters in education. By 74, she was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Which Id never heard of at thatpoint.

I read a bit about Alzheimers, went to a couple of seminars and decided nobody knew what they were talking about, since all the vile things they were saying didnt apply to my person. So I decided to learn Alzheimers fromher.

Thats the way it still is. I learn most from people who have dementia, very little from modern medicine. Actually, in the last 20 years, everything they thought they knew in 1986 has been thrown out of the window. Research has been a dismal failure, though that could change at anymoment.

Meanwhile, theres all of us the caregivers. And this workshop is all about us. You see, this society has been spreading a horrible lie about dementia, which includes Alzheimers and a whole bunch of other dementias. Caregivers have believed that lie. The lie is that we cant do anything until dementia is medicallytreatable.

We can. We can change everything by learning to speak dementia. We can change everything by changing ourselves, what we do, how we do and what we learn. We can have a darn good time with people with dementia. I know you only partially believe me, if at all, so I want to share something withyou.

I got an email last Friday from someone who attended the free community workshop I gave last year at the Faith Presbyterian Church on Choctaw Drive. And Im going to quote it, not only because she says nice things about me You are a gift from God and a virtual lifesaver! Who wouldnt want to hear that aboutthemselves?

But because she talks about how the workshop helped her change and how much her husband with dementia changed because she did. We caregivers dont always understand how much we are the problem. Thats because were too darned busy being caregivers to even ask if theres a better way. Thats where my workshop comes in. Well learn that better way. And well have fun, orelse.

See more here:
Caregiver Coach: Making sense of dementia