No one should have to navigate dementia care alone.
About this Event
Central Oregon dementia caregiver support & education: 6‑session series for families and care partners in Bend—hybrid option available.
Navigating dementia care can feel overwhelming, isolating, and emotionally complex.
The ABC Dementia Care Empowerment Series, hosted by Sagebrush Speech Therapy and facilitated by ABC Dementia Care, offers a compassionate, supportive space for learning, reflection, and connection.
This six‑session hybrid series is grounded in the Six Human Needs framework, recognizing that dementia‑related behaviors are often expressions of unmet needs rather than problems to fix.
Each session includes:
- A brief, practical educational topic
- Open discussion and shared problem‑solving
- Space for connection, validation, and support
Hybrid Format
This series is offered in a hybrid format:
- In‑person attendance in Bend, OR
- Live Google Meet option for those who prefer or need to attend remotely
Google Meet details will be emailed to registered participants prior to each session.
Session Schedule
- Mondays | 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
- April 20 and 27
- May 11 and 18
- June 1 and 8
Six-‑Session Overview
This series is based on the Six Human Needs Framework used in ABC Dementia education. Each session focuses on one of the core needs commonly linked to dementia-related behaviors.
Session 1 — Understanding Unmet Needs: Why Behaviors Are Messages
Introduces the six human needs (physical, emotional, social, mental, vocational, spiritual) and shows how unmet needs often appear as behavioral communication.
Session 2 — Physical Needs: Comfort, Pain, Sleep & Daily Rhythms
Covers how medical issues, pain, hunger, dehydration, and fatigue contribute to changes in mood, behavior, and cognition.
Session 3 — Emotional Needs: Safety, Validation & Feeling Understood
Focuses on reassurance, emotional tone, intuitive communication, and strategies for responding to fear, grief, and emotional distress.
Session 4 — Social Needs: Connection, Belonging & the Meaning of “Wandering”
Explores loneliness, seeking connection, “exit seeking,” and ways to create social belonging and reduce isolation.
Session 5 — Mental Needs: Cognitive Load, Routine & Rightsized Stimulation
Addresses confusion, overload, repeated questions, overstimulation, and communication strategies that reduce cognitive stress.
Session 6 — Vocational & Spiritual Needs: Purpose, Identity & Inner Peace
Covers purpose, meaningful roles, legacy, forgiveness, and supporting spiritual comfort throughout the dementia journey.
Who Should Attend?
- Families and care partners
- Community members in Bend and Central Oregon
- Anyone seeking education, tools, or connections in the dementia care journey
Why This Matters
Dementia affects not just individuals, but entire families and communities. The ABC Dementia | Care Empowerment Series hosted by Sagebrush Speech Therapy provides learning, support, and shared understanding — reinforcing that we are truly Navigating dementia care together.
Facilitators
Patty Sherin, Owner, ABC Dementia Care
Allison Phillips, CCC‑SLP, Owner, Sagebrush Speech Therapy
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
604 NW Harriman St, 604 Northwest Harriman Street, Bend, United States
USD 121.89 to USD 241.94
