Dementia Caregivers Site
Special In Person Training Event:
April 20th, 2026
First Christian Church
2424 N. Main St. Miami, OKFree Dementia Caregiver Training:------------------
9:00 AM –
10:30 AM
Session 1
For Paid Nursing and Care Aides
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10:45 AM –
12:15 PM
Session 2
For Professional Nurses LPN, & RN
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12:30 PM -
1:30 PM
Lunch
(On Your Own)
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2:00 PM –
3:30 PM
Session 3
For Other caregivers including family
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6:00 PM –
Session 4
Creating dementia friendly environments
in churches, businesses, etc.
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Free training event presented by:
the Oklahoma Dementia Care Network (OkDCN)
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Sponsored by Eastwood Manor Nursing Home Commerce, OK
Audience and Participation for Special event above:
Rather than focusing exclusively on a single facility such as Eastwood Manor Nursing Home in Commerce—where my wife, a dementia patient, resides – we are inviting staff from all nursing homes, hospitals, Home Health, Assisted Living, Hospice Care staff, etc.
Program Structure: Professional Groups
This training will be provided by the OKDCN team led by: Diana (Wade) Sturdevant, PhD, GCNS-BC, APRN, FGSA, FAAN - Research Assistant Professor, Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences and will be divided into two groups of professionals:
• Basic Care Providers: This includes PCAs, CNAs, home health providers, and similar staff. Topics will cover the fundamental differences in caring for dementia patients versus non-dementia patients, such as when assisting with personal care.
• Nursing Staff: Nurses encounter unique challenges with dementia patients. The training will address strategies for identifying and managing various conditions, approaches for analyzing complex situations, and considerations for treating comorbidities, etc.
Additional Groups
• Family Members and Home Caregivers: The third class will focus on non-paid caregivers, primarily family members who care for loved ones at home.
• Community Members: The final group includes businesses, chambers of commerce and church communities. This session will address awareness and support strategies for individuals in early-stage dementia, helping community members recognize and respond effectively as patterns develop. Keith Kleszynski, PhD, Assistant Professor of Research, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center will be our facilitator for this meeting.
Resource Links
