Dementia Support Group

A dementia support group is forming soon at D-CAN. Check back for more details. 

Guided Autobiography Class

Special Class for those living with mild dementia symptoms by Dr. Steve Hoover

Guided Autobiography (GAB) is an 8-week class that helps individuals organize and share their life stories. Guided by a trained instructor, Dr. Steve Hoover, participants are led through 8 weekly themes and priming questions that evoke memories of events once known but filed away and seemingly forgotten. Writing and sharing life stories with others is an ideal way to find new meaning in life as the uncertainties of the past, and the contradictions, paradoxes and events of life are put into perspective. Participants feel stronger and have a growing appreciation of their lives. Guided Autobiography also has the added benefit of staying socially connected through our life stories in ways that other opportunities cannot afford. Autobiography is a way for individuals to capture their stories for family and friends to leave a written legacy. It is not a class in how to write, but simply an opportunity to be guided through a process of creating a personal memoir. This class is uniquely designed for individuals who have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia and their caregivers. Each week we will have the opportunity to share our stories and then do some short activities to introduce the theme for the next class. In order to participate in the class individuals should be capable of:

• Writing (with their caregiver if needed) a short autobiographical story of about 2 ½ pages in length;
• Reading/sharing the story with a small group of others who are also taking the class;
• Participate in class activities such as drawing a familiar setting, brainstorming ideas for writing, and having a good time; and,
• Finding creative ways to share memories beyond the story such as pictures, etc.

The class will meet weekly on Thursdays, 9:00 – 10:30 AM from February 10 to March 31, 2021.

The class will meet at the Central MN Dementia Resource Center.  Use the South entrance to the Midsota Building at the corner of HWY 15 and 12th St. North in St. Cloud, MN.

Due to the need to allow each participant to share her/his story in the class time, it is limited to 6 participants (caregivers may join as needed, but will not write or share their own stories).

For information or to register contact:

Dr. Steve Hoover
320-492-5157
steve.hoover@cmcoa.org