Mental Wellness and Aging for Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome
Presented by Dr. Brian Chicoine, MD and Dr. Dennis McGuire, LCSW, Ph.D.
Sponsored by Bader Philanthropies, the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Down Syndrome Clinic, the Arc Wisconsin, and the Alzheimer’s Association
Join us on May 4 for a conference on Mental Wellness and Aging! Our speakers will be starting off with a session on Mental Wellness of Adults with Down Syndrome (they co-authored a popular book on this topic!) and following with a session on Down syndrome and aging/dementia. Dr. Chicoine and Dr. McGuire are highly regarded for their extensive work with teens and adults with Down syndrome, so this is a conference that you will NOT want to miss!
WHEN: Saturday, May 4th, 2019 9:00am - 3:00pm (breakfast beginning at 8am)
COST: $10 - participants will receive a $10 gas card to reimburse cost of registration upon check-in
WHERE: Children’s Hospital of WI - Briggs and Stratton Auditorium
(8915 W. Connell Ct, Milwaukee, WI 53226)
PARKING: Enter North Parking Structure; follow skywalk and signage to auditorium
SCHEDULE:
8:00am - 9:00am: Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00am - 12:00pm: Health, Mental Health, and Promoting the Best Possible Understanding and Use of Unique Behavioral Characteristics
12:00pm - 12:30pm: Lunch
12:30pm - 3:00pm: Healthy Aging, Health Impairment with Aging, and Alzheimer’s Dementia
Registration is now closed! If you’re still interested in attending, please email Rachel at rachel@dsaw.org. Thank you so much for your interest!!
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS:
Session One: Health, Mental Health, and Promoting the Best Possible Understanding and Use of Unique Behavioral Characteristics
People with Down syndrome have unique behavioral characteristics which are of paramount importance to caregivers and professionals serving this population. These characteristics include, self talk, “grooves,” a heightened sensitivity to emotions, as well as a receptiveness to visual cues and a photographic-like visual memory. These characteristics may be very beneficial and a source of strength and creativity, but they may also be or too easily mistaken as a mental health or behavioral problem by the uninformed, such as when people have self talk or normal “grooves”. In some cases these characteristics may be problematic, such as when there is an over sensitivity to social conflict or a heightened vulnerability to phobias or trauma. This workshop will clarify some of the productive and harmless behaviors from bona fide problems and discuss ways and means to promote the best possible use and understanding of these characteristics and the best strategies when problems do occur. For example, we will show how to “reset” a stuck groove (a compulsion) or manage a new or a phobic situation with the strategic use of self talk, role play and visual checklists. In addition, this session will discuss physical health, which is tightly intertwined in promoting mental health. Physical health problems can mimic, cause, or contribute to mental health disorders. Physical health promotion and conditions, particularly those that impact mental health and mental health impairment, will be discussed.
Session Two: Healthy Aging, Health Impairment with Aging, and Alzheimer’s Dementia
This workshop will give participants a greater understanding of healthy aging and problems in aging for older adults, including the effects of premature aging and the concern for Alzheimer’s dementia in this group. We will also discuss health and mental health issues for adults and include strategies for the prevention and treatment of problems when they occur.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Brian Chicoine, M.D. is the co-founder and Medical Director of the Advocate Medical Group Adult Down Syndrome Center in Park Ridge, Illinois. The Center has served over 6,000 adolescents and adults with Down syndrome since its inception in 1992. Dr. Chicoine graduated from Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He completed his Family Medicine residency at Lutheran General Hospital where he is now a faculty member. He has co-authored two books “Mental Wellness of Adults with Down Syndrome,” and “The Guide to Good Health for Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome” published by Woodbine House Publishing
Dennis McGuire, Ph.D. is a consultant in private practice and he is the former Director of Psychosocial Services for the Adult Down Syndrome Center of Lutheran General Hospital, in suburban Chicago. Dr. McGuire helped to establish the Adult Down Syndrome Center which has served the health and psychosocial needs of over 6,000 adults with Down syndrome since its inception in 1992. Dr. McGuire received his Masters degree from the University of Chicago and his doctorate from the University of Illinois at Chicago. His work experience includes over 30 years in mental health and developmental disabilities fields. He presents regularly at national and international conferences, published numerous articles and co-authored two books “Mental Wellness of Adults with Down Syndrome,” published in 2006 and “The Guide to Good Health for Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome” published by Woodbine House in 2011.
Dr. Chicoine and Dr. McGuire are co-authors of two milestone books, Mental Wellness of Adults with Down Syndrome and The Guide to Good Health for Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome.
