DONATE | OUR SERVICES | SEPTEMBER 2024

The Bridge Receives $130,800 Grant

Upcoming Events

September 3, 2024

6:00 p.m. – Dementia Family Support Group

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

September 4, 2024

11:00 a.m. – First Wednesday Workshop: General Nutrition in Adults – Zach Kidd

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

September 10, 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

September 11, 2024

11:00 a.m. – Wednesday with Friends: Cooking Demo with Dietitian Shelley Redmond

• 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

September 12, 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

September 13, 2024

10:00 a.m. – Bienville Parish Health Fair

• Arcadia Event Center, 630 Factory Outlet Dr, Arcadia, LA 71001

September 17, 2024

2:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

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

September 18, 2024

11:00 a.m. – Memory Screenings at Plain Dealing Library

• Call the Plain Dealing Library to schedule

1:00 p.m. – Zoom Online Support Group

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

September 19, 2024

10:00 a.m. – Art Connection

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

September 20, 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

September 21, 2024

9:30 a.m. – Caregiver Support Group

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

September 24, 2024

4th Annual Haynesville Open

• Location: Querbes Golf Course, 3500 Beverly Pl., Shreveport, LA 71104

1:30 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

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

September 25, 2024

1:00 p.m. – Caregiver Support Group

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

September 26, 2024

10:00 a.m. – Dementia Family 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

September 27, 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

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
• Gain new knowledge of the latest treatment for Alzheimer’s

The Bridge 4th Annual Education Conference on Alzheimer’s & Dementia Keynote Speaker Eric Portnoff

The Bridge Plans Service of Remembrance

The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center will hold a Service of Remembrance on Friday, November 1, 2024, 10:00 a.m. in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church, 900 Jordan St, Shreveport. This service is for those who at any time in their lives, have lost a family member or friend to dementia. The service will be led by the Rev. Dr. Jim Freeman of Broadmoor Presbyterian Church and the meditation will be provided by the Rev. Dr. Carl Rhoads, retired minister, board member, and treasurer of The Bridge. A portion of the service will involve reading the deceased name followed by a bell chime. If you would like to have your family member or friend’s name read during the service, please contact The Bridge at 318-656-4800. A reception will follow the service.

Zach Kidd will be the featured speaker at the First Wednesday Workshop on September 4th at 11:00 a.m. The topic for this month is "General Nutrition in Adults." 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 September 11 at 11:00 a.m. at The Bridge for a cooking demonstration with Shelley Redmond, a registered dietitian. This activity is open to caregivers and their family member living with dementia.

The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center will be participating in the Beniville Parish Health Fair on September 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Arcadia Event Center. We will be available to provide resources and answer any questions you may have about Alzheimer's and dementia.

The Bridge Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center will be providing memory screenings at the Plain Dealing Library from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on September 18.

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.

A portion of the golf tournament proceeds will be donated to The Bridge in memory of Randy Hardin, who died of Lewy Body Dementia.

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.

August Overview

Executive director, Paulette Freeman partners with LSUS' INAR program

Ten nonprofit leaders from Shreveport have embarked on a transformative journey, supported by a grant from the Community Foundation of North Louisiana. The Institute for Nonprofit Administration & Research - LSUS is leading a series of workshops to help these leaders strengthen their organizations. From board development to fundraising, this program is set to make a significant impact on our local community.

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The Bridge Partners with the Validation Training Institute

Article by Paulette Freeman, Executive Director

It is an honor to announce a partnership between The Bridge Alzheimer’s Dementia Resource Center (The Bridge) and the Validation Training Institute (VTI) while we are also announcing The Bridge’s 4th Annual Education Conference on Alzheimer’s & Dementia. Eric Portnoff, Certified Validation Teacher (CVT) is our distinguished keynote speaker for this year’s education conference. This is the fourth consecutive year that we have brought in a Certified Validation Teacher to our conference.

Through this new and unique partnership between our two organizations, we will share each other’s stories, news, and social media posts to raise awareness about each other’s organizations and the importance of Validation Training. Our goal is to highlight the profound impact of VTI techniques and the essential philosophy of “Connecting Heart to Heart with Older Adults.”

Recently, five staff members of The Bridge completed the Beginning Validation course offered by VTI. The diverse backgrounds, education, and experiences of these individuals have led to insightful discussions, empowering each of us to approach our roles—whether as an intern or executive director—with a new perspective on caring for older adults, especially those with cognitive challenges, using Validation training. Notably, three of our board members engaged in the course, reflecting our commitment to fostering knowledge at all organizational levels.

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Dementia Friendly Community of Northwest Louisiana at BPSTIL

This past week Laura Gauthier, Program and Education Director, led 59 students and 2 instructors from the Health Occupations Class at Bossier Parish School for Technology and Innovative Learning for our “Dementia Friendly Community of Northwest Louisiana” program.



If you have a civic group, sorority, fraternity, or Sunday School class and want to join our “Dementia Friendly Community of NWLA,” call us at The Bridge!

First Wednesday Workshop

Featuring Gary Moore and Tim Quinn, CTFA, from Argent Trust

"Elder Financial Abuse”

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.

*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