The Savvy Caregiver DVD

About the DVD

The Savvy Caregiver Program is offered as a live, classroom presentation in various locations around the country for 5 or 6 consecutive weeks. Since the majority of the country is not within driving distance of one of these classes, we created Savvy Caregiver Program and condensed it into just 4 video sessions that you can watch in the privacy of your home. You could watch them all in one sitting, but the week-long breaks between the live sessions were specifically designed so you could see how this advice and these approaches work in your actual life. We recommend you watch one DVD Session each week for four weeks.

Session 1 (DVD 1)
Introduction to Dementia and Caregiving

Introduction
Understanding Dementia
Losses in Thinking Skills: Memory
Losses in Thinking Skills: Language
Losses in Thinking Skills: Reasoning
Losses in Thinking Skills: Judgment
Losses in Thinking Skills: Perception
Losses in Thinking Skills: Abstraction
Losses in Thinking Skills: Attention
Losses in Thinking Skills: Organization
Conclusion

Session 2 (DVD 2)
Minimizing Confusion and Taking Charge

The Emotions of Caregiving
The "Feeling" Quadrants
Taking Care of the Caregiver
Confusion
Behavior Is Communication
Taking Charge
Structure and Support
Conclusion

Session 3 (DVD 3)
Activities and Loss of Abilities

Introduction to the Stages Levels of Dementia
Contented Involvement
Finding the Right Fit for Activities
The Allen Cognitive Levels of Thinking
Allen Level 6: Normal Thinking
Allen Level 5: The First Signs
Allen Level 4: Increasing Problems
Allen Level 3: Significant Impairment
Allen Level 2: Minimal Abilities
Conclusion

Session 4 (DVD 4)
Providing Structure and Support

Appropriate Activities
Cueing and Assistance
Setup and Support
Difficult Decisions
Adjusting Your Behavior
Conclusion

Watch a preview

What people are saying

"I started watching Session 1 and was absolutely mesmerized. I couldn't stop watching it. I want everyone in my family to see it."
Tina Y., Edina, MN, who is the granddaughter of someone with memory loss

"You don't really select yourself to be a caregiver. It just is more a matter of circumstances."
Karen, Savvy Caregiver participant and granddaughter of someone with Alzheimer's disease

"I thought the background information regarding the diagnosis was excellent. Outstanding facilitator who explained the realities of the disease, but gave hope. . . I loved the family members sharing their situations and struggles, which are universal, and the way the facilitator tied them together with common themes. The validation and support were fabulous; watching it you would not feel so alone. It's very important that you touched on taking care of yourself as a caregiver; when you are in the trenches this is difficult to do, but so critical."
Lorraine N., Minneapolis, MN, whose husband was diagnosed with early onset dementia at the age of 50 and died at the age of 56.

"I don't have patience, and now I have to learn the patience. I have to learn the caregiving role."
Pete, Savvy Caregiver participant and husband of someone with dementia

"You find yourself yelling at the person all the time. You don't want to be that way, you know. You feel really bad about it, but you're frustrated and you don't know what to do."
Kim, Savvy Caregiver participant and daughter-in-law of someone with dementia

"...because I need help."
Lee, Savvy Caregiver participant and daughter of someone with Alzheimer's Disease responding to a question about why she was participating in the Savvy Caregiver class.

6112 Ewing Avenue South · Minneapolis, MN 55410 · Toll Free: 1-888-860-4295

About the DVD

Session 1 (DVD 1)Introduction to Dementia and Caregiving

Session 2 (DVD 2)Minimizing Confusion and Taking Charge