DONATE | OUR SERVICES | JULY 2024

The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center is pleased to provide the organization’s 2023 Annual Report. Inside you will find a message from our executive director, a message from our outgoing Board president, highlights of our program, and our Donor Honor Roll. We’re calling it our Donor Honor Roll because we are honored that you chose The Bridge as an organization to donate to and become a part of by your gift.

Upcoming Events

July 2, 2024

6:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: The Blake of Bossier City, 200 The Blake Blvd., Bossier City, LA 71111

July 3, 2024

11:00 a.m. – First Wednesday Workshop: What You Need to Know About Hospice – Michelle Johnson

• Location: The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St., Shreveport, LA 71104

July 4, 2024

CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY

July 9, 2024

Noon – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Sabine Council on Aging, 200 Legacy Dr., Many, LA 71449

2:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Trinity Heights Baptist Church, 3820 Old Mooringsport Rd., Shreveport, LA 71107

4:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Benton Council Aging, 202 Sibley St. Benton, LA 71006

July 10, 2024

11:00 a.m. – Wednesday with Friends: Chair Exercise with Club Pilates

• Location: The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St., Shreveport, LA 71104

1:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: First Presbyterian Church - Shreveport, 900 Jordan St., Shreveport, LA 71101

5:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Broadmoor Baptist Church, 4110 Youree Dr., Shreveport, LA 71105

July 11, 2024

Noon – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: First Methodist - Shreveport, 500 Common St., Shreveport, LA 71101

2:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St., Shreveport, LA 71104

July 12, 2024

10:00 a.m. – Memory Screenings

• Bienville Parish Library in Gibsland, Gibsland, LA 71028

July 16, 2024

2:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Natchitoches Council on Aging, 1016 Keyser Ave, Natchitoches, LA 71457

July 17, 2024

1:00 p.m. – Zoom Online Support Group

• Call The Bridge at 318-656-4800 for login information

July 18, 2024

10:00 a.m. – Art Connection

• Location: Noel Memorial UMC, 520 Herndon St., Shreveport, LA 71101

1:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Savannah Grand of Bossier City, 4770 Brandon Blvd., Bossier City, LA 71111

July 19, 2024

11:00 a.m. – Alzheimer's/Dementia Caregiver Grief Support Group

• Location: The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St., Shreveport, LA 71104

July 20, 2024

9:30 a.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Fitness Lady, 1700 Old Minden Rd. #180, Bossier City, LA 71111

July 23, 2024

1:30 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Ellerbe Road Methodist Church, 10130 Ellerbe Rd., Shreveport, LA 71106

July 24, 2024

1:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: First Presbyterian Church - Shreveport, 900 Jordan St., Shreveport, LA 71101

July 25, 2024

10:00 a.m. – NEW! Caregiver Support Group

• Location: The Oaks of Louisiana, 600 E Flournoy Lucas Rd., Shreveport, LA 71115

2:00 p.m. – Drum and Hand Percussion Group

• Location: The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St., Shreveport, LA 71104

5:30 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

• Location: Broadmoor Presbyterian Church - Adult Building, 1915 Grover Place, Shreveport, LA 71105

July 26, 2024

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. – Memory Screenings – Call to schedule an appointment

• Location: The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St., Shreveport, LA 71104

August 3, 2024

10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. – Grandchildren's Workshop

• Location: The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, 851 Olive St., Shreveport, LA 71104

4th Annual Education Conference on Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Conference Goals

The goal of the conference is to provide engagement and empowerment tools for family members, caregivers, and professionals caring for individuals affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias by using a hands-on approach so that persons with all levels of cognitive impairment can engage, interact, and communicate with another, thus mitigating the negative effects of social isolation for themselves and their families.

“Engage, Empower, Educate” Objectives

• Learn to practice validation techniques with individuals living with cognitive change to help restore their dignity
• Help families, staff, and all participants achieve empathy with aging
• Develop empathetic listening skills and responses
• Recognize the importance of quality of life in a nursing home
• Discover digital technology and how it can enhance the wellbeing of dementia individuals
• Understand the importance of independence and when to intervene
• Recognize and address delirium, depression, and dementia in elder care
• Learn how to reduce risks in a home setting
• How to better cope with death, dying, and grief
• Understand the day-to-day challenges of caring for a dementia individual

Michelle Johnson will be the featured speaker at the First Wednesday Workshop on July 3rd at 11:00 a.m. The topic for this month is "What You Need to Know About Hospice." This workshop is free to attend and no reservations are required. It will be held at The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center, located at 851 Olive Street, Shreveport, LA.

Join us on July 10 at 11:00 a.m. at The Bridge for a chair exercise workshop with Club Pilates! This activity is open to caregivers and their family member living with dementia.

ART can connect us socially, boost cognitive function, stimulate language, reawaken memories, & provide a sense of accomplishment. Join us every third Thursday at 10:00 am at Noel United Methodist Church. Thank you to the Noel Community Arts Program for sponsoring this activity!

This activity is open to caregivers and their family member living with dementia.

The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center (The Bridge) is providing a Caregiver Grief Support Group for those who have lost a family member to Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The group will be led by Anthony Williams, Licensed Professional Counselor and Bridge Board of Directors member. The Bridge realized the importance of this grief support group from talking to caregivers who have lost their loved one. People grieving family members who have died after a long-term decline, due to Alzheimer’s and dementia have different needs.

If you have lost a recent family member to Alzheimer’s or dementia or know of someone who has, you can call The Bridge at 318-656-4800 for more information.

Join us for an informative and exciting session where we will explore various drums, hand percussion instruments, and participate in a drum circle. This event is open to caregivers and their family members or friends with dementia. Drum and Hand Percussion is every fourth Thursday at 2:00 pm at The Bridge Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center, located at 851 Olive St, Shreveport. Thank you to the Noel Community Arts Program for sponsoring this activity!

This activity is open to caregivers and their family member living with dementia.

The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center is offering a Grandchildren’s Workshop for children, for ages 6-12, who have a grandparent or other family member living with a form of dementia. The workshop will be held on Saturday, August 3, from 10:00 am until 12:30 pm at The Bridge office, located at 851 Olive Street in Shreveport.

The workshop is free of charge and parents are invited to sit in during the event.

“Our goal, by offering this first of its kind workshop in Northwest Louisiana, is to help grandchildren understand a grandparent’s dementia,” stated Paulette Freeman, executive director of The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center. “We saw this as an opportunity for us to help the children understand the disease in a fun and creative way with other children who are facing the same issues with their grandparent or other family member.”

Listed are some reasons why a workshop like this is beneficial for a child whose grandparent has some form of dementia. From a child’s standpoint, they may remember grandma or grandpa as the ones who watched them while mom and dad were away, who spoiled them with food and snacks, who played fun games with them, or had a sleepover at their home. Unfortunately, dementia can take these memories away from a grandparent and it can be upsetting for a young child. Explaining what Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia can be challenging. Explaining the grandparent’s change in behavior can be challenging as well. It is important for the child to know that they are not the ones causing these changes.

The workshop will be facilitated by the licensed professional counselors who are on staff at The Bridge. Lunch is provided and registration is required for planning purposes. To register, call The Bridge office at 318-656-4800.

June Overview

Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month

June was Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month. Learning the signs of Alzheimer's can help you detect and understand early on. If you or someone you love is struggling with memory issues, please call 318-656-4800 or visit our website for resources and information at www.alzbridge.org.

The Early Signs of Alzheimer's

First Wednesday Workshop

Featuring Cassandra Cesare, Caddo Council on Aging Ombudsman

"Ombudsman Program Community Education”

Welcome New Intern: Brooklynn Oney

Hello everyone! My name is Brooklynn Oney and I am the counseling intern at the Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center. I obtained my Bachelor of Arts in English at Louisiana State University Shreveport in 2021, and am now in the process of earning my Masters in Counseling Degree from LSUS as well.

I’m so excited to learn and grow as a future counselor at this wonderful organization surrounded by such inspiring people.

Open Position at The Bridge - Join Our Team!

Are you interested in being a part of a growing non-profit organization that is having a positive impact on those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias? The Bridge has a part-time position open as a Grant Writer. See job description below. Send your resume to Paulette Freeman, Executive Director, at paulettefreeman@alzbridge.org.

View Full Job Description

*Please call to confirm the date and time of group meetings before attending for the first time. Facilitators vary.

To be able to say how you feel and have others understand.

To be angry and others will not say you should not feel like that.

To find help on how to handle difficult behavior problems.

To learn that you cannot and should not be the only one responsible for caring for a loved one who has the disease.

To learn where to go for help in caring for a loved one.

To realize it is possible to laugh at some of the impossible, crazy things that happen during a day with a person living with dementia.

To learn to stop trying to teach, or reason, with your loved one and instead accept that the way she/he sees things is very real for her/him.

To discover that it is important to have some time for yourself and not feel guilty about it.

To become aware of how much it helps to know you are not making this dementia journey alone.

To discover that coping is easier with the support and caring understanding of the others present.

Programs of The Bridge Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center are supported by

Community Foundation of North Louisiana ~ First Presbyterian Church Shreveport

The Alta and John Franks Foundation ~ Powers Foundation

The Thomas H. and Mayme P. Scott Foundation

The Bridge Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center

851 Olive Street

Shreveport, LA 71104

(318) 656-4800

www.alzbridge.org