Upcoming Events

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 Tuesdays, 9:00–10:30 AM from April 19-June 7, 2022.

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

Dementia Caregiver Support Group

D-CAN is offering two caregiver support groups. One is in Becker on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 10:00am and one in St. Cloud on the third Tuesday of the month at 10:00am.

Build a support system with people who understand. This caregiver support group is a safe place for all caregivers, family and friends who are caring for someone with chronic illness or dementia to share their concerns, needs and feelings.

Becker: Becker Community Center, 11500 Sherburne Ave, Becker, MN 55308

St. Cloud: Dementia Resource Center, 3701-12th St. N, Suite 103, St. Cloud, MN 56303

Dementia Friends Class: 

Dementia Resource Center, St Cloud
Every Third Wednesday from 10AM-11AM
Contact: Tami Kolbinger 320-640-6695

Dementia Friends is a global movement that is changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. By helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects people, each of us can make a difference for people touched by dementia.

What exactly does it mean to attend a Dementia Friends session and become a Dementia Friend? A Dementia Friend is someone who, through attending an in-person session, learns about what it’s like to live with dementia and then turns that understanding into action. From telling friends about the Dementia Friends program to visiting someone who is living with dementia, every action counts.