Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi is announcing a Zoom webinar to aid staff at Hawaii agencies and organizations as well as family caregivers to learn more about the risk, assessment and care of persons aging with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who may experience cognitive decline or dementia as they age.  Registrants will receive the Zoom link to attend after registering on Eventbrite by clicking here. A link to the handouts and email confirmation and reminders will be sent prior to May 7. Presenters include:

Kathryn Pears, MPPM is Chief Operating Officer of the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG), a national nonprofit advancing dementia-capable care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). A recognized leader in the field, she co-chaired the development of NTG’s evidence-informed national curriculum and has led more than 85 trainings across 35 states. With over 40 years of experience, her expertise spans early detection, differential diagnosis, and the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. She previously served as Director of Policy and Programs for the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter. Prior to joining NTG, she served on its Board of Directors and was principal of her consulting firm, Dementia Care Strategies.

 Kathleen M. Bishop, PhD brings over 50 years of experience in the IDD field and more than 30 years of specialization in aging with intellectual disability. She holds a B.S. from SUNY Geneseo, an M.S. in Special Education, and a Ph.D. from Syracuse University in Aging and Disabilities. Dr. Bishop is retired from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). She is a former Vice President of the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG) Board of Directors and co-chaired the committee that developed the NTG’s national model training curriculum on intellectual disabilities and dementia. In her personal writing, under the pen name Mary Kathleen McKenna, she is the author of the Women with Wisdom and Pets of Wisdom series. She is currently developing a guidebook on healthy aging for adults with intellectual disabilities

By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:

• Describe early signs, risk factors, and unique presentations of dementia in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)

• Demonstrate application of appropriate screening and assessment strategies, including use of the NTG-EDSD, to support differential diagnosis and early detection

• Identify and implement person-centered care approaches across the dementia trajectory, from diagnosis through advanced stages

• Through an example of a specific activity of daily living, participants will be able identify how support changes over time to meet the changing needs