Supporting Meaningful Engagement in Lewy Body Dementia

Meaningful engagement plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life for individuals living with Lewy body dementia (LBD) and their care partners. Engagement in meaningful activities provides a sense of purpose, offers an outlet for skills, supports self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment. However, due to the many symptoms and challenges for people with LBD and their care partners, this can become more difficult over time.  

Join LBDA for this interactive Wellness Workshop featuring Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, CDP, an occupational therapist who specializes in improving well-being and skills of family care partners and slowing the decline in daily functioning of persons with dementia. With live, interactive polls and Q&A, Rachel will guide participants through strategies to help support continued engagement in activities that are meaningful for the person living with Lewy.   

By the completion of this presentation, you will be able to: 

1. Describe the benefits of maintaining engagement in meaningful activities for people living with LBD. 
2. Demonstrate various strategies one can practice at home to support safely engaging in activities of interest.
3. Identify tips and tricks that people living with LBD and their care partners can utilize to support continued engagement in meaningful activities as the disease progresses.  

Register at: https://events.zoom.us/ev/AgoWI17TSuSz6rH3ntxpQcjVftl61QQhkOJO7mn22K3N8JQA-drs~AqxacN6u19c97Cq2oO4QZW6eazgNbe29dlcds3tqWINVqkQG95WsOerPUg

About Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, CDP 

Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, CDP is an occupational therapist and the founder and owner of Dementia Consulting and the Dementia Collaborative LLC.  Rachel is certified in Skills2Care® for care partners of individuals living with dementia and she is a certified Skills2Care® master trainer through Jefferson Elder Care. 

Previously, Rachel was an adjunct faculty member in the occupational therapy departments at Thomas Jeferson University and Temple University.  She also worked as the occupational therapist and Dementia Service Coordinator for the Pew Charitable Trust Grant with Jefferson Elder Care.  Rachel attended Penn State University for her Bachelors in Rehabilitation and Human Services and minor in Psychology, and attended Thomas Jefferson University for her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. 

She previously served as the Gerontology Chair for the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association’s (POTA) District V Board.  She also owned and operated a patient care practice, Day by Day Home Therapy for 6 years, serving clients living with dementia and their care partners.  Rachel has been working with individuals living with dementia in personal and professional contexts for over 17 years. 

For questions or more information, please contact Rose Heithoff, Education Coordinator, at rheithoff@lbda.org.