The Caregiver's Toolkit Seminar Series

Led by Gerontologist Andrea Holzner, PhD, this seminar series gives healthcare professionals and family caregivers real-world tools for challenging situations. Gain practical strategies, dementia insights, and the confidence to handle tough moments with compassion. Each class qualifies for 2 CEUs.

Part 1: De-Escalation Strategies

This highly interactive workshop focuses on immediate, practical strategies to lower the emotional temperature during high-stress caregiving moments. When behavioral expressions intensify, caregivers need reliable, split-second tools to ensure safety and restore calm. Participants will practice physical and verbal techniques to manage their own stress responses while gently defusing tense situations with care recipients.

Topics Covered:

• Somatic Regulation: Grounding techniques to keep your own nervous system calm during a crisis.
• Script-Based Redirection: Verbal tools and proven phrases to gently shift focus without creating conflict.
• Environmental Triggers: Identifying and modifying sensory overstimulation in the room.
• De-Escalation Timing: Recognizing the subtle shifts from agitation to high-stress behaviors.

Date / Time: Thu 10/8/2026 | 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Cost: Resident $30 / Non‑Resident $35
Credits: 2 CEUs
Event Code: 34831

Part 2: Decoding Cognitive Confusion

Shift your perspective from managing behaviors to solving mysteries. This session teaches caregivers to treat confusing or challenging behavioral expressions as vital, unmet communication. By adopting "The Detective Mindset," you will learn to uncover hidden physical or emotional triggers, gracefully step into your loved one or client's current reality, and protect your relationship before a situation escalates into a crisis.

Topics Covered:

• The Detective Mindset: Systematically ruling out hidden physical triggers like pain, fatigue, or infection.
• Entering Their Reality: Techniques for validation and therapeutic communication rather than arguing or correcting facts.
• Environmental & Social Adjustments: Tailoring daily routines to match cognitive energy levels.
• Crisis Prevention: Proactive boundary-setting and environmental cues that preserve dignity and safety.

Date / Time: Thu 10/22/2026 | 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Cost: Resident $30 / Non‑Resident $35
Credits: 2 CEUs
Event Code: 34832

About the Instructor:

Dr. Andrea Holzner, Ph.D., is a gerontologist and global expert in dementia care and geriatric patient support. She provides training, education, and consultation to improve quality of care and caregiver wellbeing. Learn more at andreaholzner.com.

Past Workshops Archive

The following previous sessions are now closed for registration. To request a future repeat of these specific topics, please contact our program office.

Supporting the Caregiver: Dementia‑Informed Tools for Professionals

A comprehensive, hands-on workshop tailored for health and social-care professionals. This intensive 4-hour session focused on using validated screening tools to spot caregiver burnout early, implementing critical home safety checks, navigating complex boundary issues, and utilizing brief, high-impact stress reduction interventions for care dyads.

Caring Without Losing Yourself: Practical Tools for Dementia Caregivers

An interactive skills-building session designed specifically for family and informal caregivers. Participants engaged in role-plays and small-group problem solving to master core day-to-day caregiving needs: validating communication, adapting home routines, simplifying choices to prevent cognitive exhaustion, and building personal actionable self-care strategies.