Dementia Care Education and Support

GEM Respite Services, Inc.

PO Box 3601, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948

His Dream Center, 205 Baltic St. Nags Head

"Celebrating Life Every Day"

PH: 252.480.3354 * Fax: 480.0359

"GEM Delivers with Love and Expertise Dementia Care Education and Support"

GEM is a community based non-profit serving the needs of older adults and
their families. We specialize in providing restorative dementia care. We
also provide care for people who are at risk if left alone and all that
would benefit from socialization with peers.

These are four of the programs we provide for our community:

*The GEM Center located in Nags Head, provides 20 hours of therapeutic
respite a week. Benefiting both the person with dementia and their family.

*Outer Banks Caregivers Education and Support Group - provides programs of
interest to caregiver's. Meets the second Thursday at 11am a His Dream
Center.

*Dementia Education - We have developed "Caring Effectively" & "ALZ 101"
providing an overall view of dementia and strategies for providing the "Best
Care" for people with dementia. We are available to provide this class to
individuals, students, agencies and family caregivers.

*GEM offers a "Therapeutic Work Environment" for Dare Counties disabled and
at risk students. We have partnered with the schools to assist students in
the transition from school to work for over 4 years. We are now working with
"Teen Court" and "Project Rebound."

GEM is the "Missing Link" in the chain of care for a person with dementia
and their families.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease and a person can live 4-20
years with the disease. Supports for people in the mid-stage of the disease
are few because at this time the care is considered "Custodial" meaning NOT
requiring medical care or more precisely not eligible for financial support
from insurance. This "donut hole" in our healthcare system leaves the 5
million caregivers in the USA without support.

We at GEM address the human spirit that exists in people despite disability,
recognizing that being clean and fed does not come close to providing the
quality of life we all desire. Laughter, friendships, and something to look
forward to each day is what we provide at GEM as we "Celebrate Life Every
Day."

Gail E. Sonnesso, MS

Gail received her graduate degree in Rehabilitation Studies from East
Carolina University in 1997. She is the founder and executive director of
GEM Respite Care. The program has been providing day time care for older
adults since 2001.

Alzheimer's education

   

GEM Education & Advocacy Home About GEM Support GEM Volunteer Caregiver Support Upcoming Events Education & Advocacy   Contact Gail Sonnesso at (252) 480-3354to request additional information regarding dementia care training   Education and advocacy are fundamental elements of GEM's mission. In addition to providing a high level of hands-on service, GEM is actively involved in teaching innovative forms of dementia care. At present, the National Institute on Aging estimates that over five million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. These older adults have specialized cognitive, physical and emotional needs. Few caregivers,paid or unpaid, have the specialized training needed to optimally care for those with dementia. Unfortunately, most hands-on care providers report that they learn about dementia care "on the job" or through "trial and error." GEM provides specific dementia education that allows these care providers to perform their jobs in a more competent and nurturing manner. At the end of the GEM dementia care training, care providers are able to: Identify persons who exhibit symptoms of dementia. Use strategies for successful communication. Understand safety risks. Understand concerns of the family. Understand appropriate levels of care. Link persons with dementia to needed social and medical services. Provide the "Best Day" for older adults with dementia and their caregivers. Training involves 30 intensive hours of dementia-specific training over five days. Training is facilitated by Gail Sonnesso, MS, Director of GEM. Currently, the Eastern Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association in cooperation with the NC Nurses Association and the Nursing Home Association offers continuing education units (CEUs) to those who successfully complete the GEM course.