Communities

World Renowned Dementia/Alzheimer’s Expert Teams With Meridian Senior Living Community to Present Free Validation Workshop

March 5, 2018

FISHERS, IN–Meridian Senior Living, LLC and their Indiana-based communities Sugar Fork Crossing and Demaree Crossing are proud to share they will be hosting a free educational workshop in March with world-renowned Naomi Feil, founder of the Validation Training Institute.

Feil will share with attendees how Validation helps to successfully communicate with and reach cognitively impaired individuals. Hundreds of participants including family members, practitioners, caregivers, and those who want to learn more about dementia and Alzheimer’s are expected to attend these workshops.

The workshop will take place Wednesday, March 21, from 1-5 p.m. at the Wellington Fishers Banquet and Conference Center at 9775 North by Northeast Boulevard, Fishers, IN. To make reservations, participants can call either Crystal at 317.316.8380 or Merry at 765.233.9360 by March 16.

“It was such a pleasure to meet Feil and experience the Validation training,” said Donna Moening, executive director of Walnut Crossing after experiencing a workshop in Dublin, OH. “This will be such an asset and a vital piece of training for our staff.”

Why is learning about Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia so important? The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s is growing—and growing fast. Of the 6.5 million Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, an estimated 5.2 million people are age 65 and older and approximately 200,000 under the age of 65 are afflicted with younger-onset of the disease. The figures are staggering—one in nine people age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s disease. By mid-century, someone in the United States will develop the disease every 33 seconds. With that in mind, Alzheimer’s will affect all of us in one way or another, and understanding and learning about the disease becomes increasingly important for everyone to effectively deal with afflicted family members and loved ones.

Naomi Feil, born in Munich in 1932, grew up in the Montefiore Home for the Aged in Cleveland, OH, where her father was administrator and her mother was head of Social Services. After graduating with a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University, Naomi began her life’s work with the elderly. From 1963 and 1980, Feil developed Validation as a response to her dissatisfaction with traditional methods of working with severely disoriented elderly people.

Validation is a method of communicating with and helping disoriented seniors. It is a practical way of communicating that helps reduce stress, enhance dignity and promote happiness. Validation is built on an empathetic approach and holistic view of individuals where you ‘step into their shoes’ and ‘see through their eyes’ to understand the meaning of their often bizarre behaviors. This method allows seniors the opportunity to express, both verbal and non-verbal, their feelings and needs, often having been suppressed for years.

Feil founded the Validation Training Institute (VTI) in 1983 and, as executive director of VTI, has traveled the world, including Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, France, Belgium, Italy, Great Britain, Austria, and most recently in China on behalf of Meridian Senior Living, to share her experiences and Validation method with people from all walks of life.

VTI, a U.S.-based, not-for-profit organization with a professional board of directors, has progressively developed certification levels, training programs, and formed a network of national and regional Validation organizations to disseminate information, train interested individuals, and maintain ‘the spirit of Validation.’

“We are proud of our extensive work with Ms. Feil to help educate our staff and associate businesses to better work with and create a much higher quality of life for our memory care residents across the country and in China,” says Kevin Carlin, principal and chief sales officer. “We are committed to enriching the lives of seniors and continue to actively support our memory care communities through education and proven staff training.”

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