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Valley County

From Science to Solutions

Published: 2019
By Roubie Younkin
Dementia is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s but treatments for symptoms are available and research continues. MSU Extension, Valley County hosted two dementia specialists in less than 9 months because of the importance this topic has to the community. Both Heather McKay and Vicki Schmall shed light on the many facets of the disease and the challenges families and caregivers face. With the help of the MSU Outreach and Engagement seed grant program and the Montana Geriatrics Education Center, MSU Extension’s Marsha Goetting and Roubie Younkin brought in Dr. Vicki Schmall, Executive Director and Gerontology Training Specialist to provide insight for family caregivers as well as health care professionals. Vicki Schmall focused on topics such as family decision-making, communication and care-giving issues; aging and health-related changes; mental health issues; sensitivity training on aging-related changes; learning and memory in later life; late-life sexuality; and instruction/curriculum design and training. Educating youth about dementia was the focus of an additional program funded by the Montana Geriatrics Education Center. MSU Extension’s Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness for Children – Story Book Series is designed to educate children, teenagers, and adults about Alzheimer’s disease through story books. Youth were invited to a story hour where teens read children’s books such as Why Did Grandma Put Her Underwear in the Refrigerator?, What a Beautiful Morning, and Striped Shirts and Flowered Pants to younger children and then utilized the reading guides to create discussions.