Conversations With Caregivers

November

The trajectory of illness that a person living with dementia will follow is often long and winding. Where along that trajectory can palliative care offer support and guidance? How does palliative care differ from hospice? And just what is hospice now that you mentioned it? This session will review when and how palliative care and hospice services can support patients and their families.

Mark Stoltenberg, MD, MPH, MA is a palliative care physician at MGH and Harvard Medical School where he serves as the medical director for the MGB home-based palliative care program and the co-director of the MGH global palliative care program. Dr. Stoltenberg’s work focuses on innovative and collaborative methods of responding to the suffering of the most vulnerable, both locally and globally. He has led palliative care projects across the Caribbean, East Africa and Latin America, worked as an international consultant for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) and currently leads a sub-group for the World Health Organization (WHO) Palliative Care working group.

Supported by the Center for Women, Wellness & Wealth, Inspired by Berkshire Bank, the Bresky Foundation, and the Satter Foundation.

Conversations With Caregivers

December

Taking Refuge in Qigong

Tuesday, November 5

5:30 - 6:30PM EST

Ellen DeGenova, Tai Chi Instructor

Qigong is often called the “Mother of Tai Chi.” It is a restorative and energizing practice that dates back thousands of years. Through gentle and highly adaptable movements, we will begin to discover how to cultivate and balance our vital life force (qi). Snagged places, be they mental or physical, slowly become unsnagged and dormant areas become more alive. A Qigong practice can help create a calm, nurturing refuge as we ride the ups and downs of caregiving. We learn how to elicit the innate intelligence of qi that is indeed our birthright. All are welcome to explore and play! No experience necessary.

As a former caregiver to a loved one with dementia, Ellen knows  firsthand the challenges and rewards of the caregiving life. She is a certified graduate of the Tree of Life Tai Chi Center’s Teacher Training Program where she is an assistant instructor. She also teaches for East End House, Cambridge Plays, and the Harvard Center for Wellness. Past teaching engagements include the MGH Parkinson’s Tai Chi and Speaker Series, Harvard Museums of Science and Culture, Harvard Medical School, and other clients in the nonprofit and for-profit worlds. Her approach to teaching is informed by 35 years of meditation practice. Nothing makes her happier than to help others find peace of mind- body and to revitalize through the subtle power of Qigong and Tai Chi. For more info, visit: www.ellendtaichi.com.

Health & Resiliency

December

Nourishment Through Nutrition

December 3, 2024

5:30 to 6:30pm EST

Helen Delichatsios, MD, SM

Nourishment comes from a variety of sources. What sorts of foods we eat, how much we hydrate, how much we sleep, time in nature, time for our relationships and community, our consumption of social media and news and more. In this Health & Resiliency Program, Helen Delichatsios, MD, will share her expertise on how we can make simple choices to nourish our bodies and minds as best we can with the foods we decide to put on our plates. This program is not about diets or scarcity or deprivation! Join us to learn a few new ways to our approach to eating in a more nutritious and mindful way. 

Helen Delichatsios, MD, SM is a clinician-educator at MGH. Helen has an active Primary Care practice, teaches students and residents, and mentors junior faculty. She develops educational tools on nutrition for her patients, trainees, and peers. Her research interests and publications concern effective nutrition and obesity counseling methods in outpatient practice. Dr. Delichatsios is a founding and integral member of the Healthy Lifestyle Program (HLP) at MGH – the biggest Lifestyle Medicine program in the nation. She leads the Nutrition and Culinary Medicine initiatives including piloting Hybrid (in person and Zoom) Virtual Group Visits and brings patients in person to the new MGH Revere Teaching Kitchen for hands on Culinary Medicine Group Medical Visits. At Harvard Medical School (HMS), Helen directed the Preventive Medicine and Nutrition course in the early 2000’s and she led transitions to subsequent iterations of nutrition courses as the HMS curriculum evolved. Helen directs the inaugural Culinary Medicine and Nutrition elective at HMS which started in 2024. Helen runs faculty development sessions on Nutrition, Culinary Medicine, Group Medical Visits and health professional self-health. A graduate of Cornell University Medical College, Helen completed her Internal Medicine residency at Cornell New York Hospital and earned a Master of Science degree in Epidemiology at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. In 2024, Helen completed her Chef degree at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts.

Fundamental Skills for Dementia Caregivers

Each month we offer this innovative and highly recommended four-part course to learn about improved communication, minimizing challenging symptoms, and decisions around safety. Facilitated by Barbara Moscowitz, LICSW and Kelsey Anderson, LICSW. This class is offered via Zoom and is available upon speaking with Barbara or Kelsey.  Contact the team to learn more.

The dates listed comprise one course.

December course offered:

Mondays 4 to 5:30pm ET on

December 2, 9, 16, and 23

Please share this invitation with anyone who would find the topic of interest!

Research Study Opportunity

Voices that Matter

Research Participant Perspectives

Hosted by MADRC (Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center), join this event to hear from research participants as they share why they got involved in a study and what the experience is like. Panelist's will answer questions including:

• How often do you have to visit the clinic when you’re in a study?
• Do any of the medical tests hurt?
• How does participating in research lead scientists toward finding a cure?
• Are studies open to folks from different races, genders, ethnicities, ages, and identities?

Friday, November 15th

12 - 1 PM EST, via Zoom 

To register: bit.ly/VTM2024