Kathleen Koenig Stoffel, BCDA's caregiver support program manager, said the Caregiver Corner at the Power of the Age Expo will offer resources, demonstrations and respite on Wednesday, October 29 in North Hall.

“The dementia friendly program and leaders in the field will be there to offer guidance and resources for the dementia journey,” Stoffel said. “Occupational therapy students will be demonstrating assistant devices that will offer a way to make life a bit easier.”

The feature area is aimed at caregivers and their care partners and will combine informational booths, interactive activities and services. Stoffel said the caregiver support program will provide information about consultations, a caregiver stipend and events; the transcript did not specify the stipend amount or eligibility requirements. The area will also include an art corner, an opportunity to write a reflective poem and an interactive census board and survey for visitors to voice needs.

Stoffel described an online tool that will be represented at the exhibit. “TrueAlta is a website that offers caregivers educational trainings on how to better care for themselves and their care partners,” she said. According to Stoffel, TrueAlta provides live webinars, videos and articles covering topics such as skill training, medication management, safety issues and managing behavioral challenges; it offers condition-specific information for Parkinson’s disease, dementia, diabetes and post-stroke care. Stoffel said the site includes one-to-one care coaches available by email or live video, virtual support groups and community chats, is accessible via laptop, phone or tablet without an app, and is available in Spanish.

The exhibit will also offer brief on-site respite. “We invite caregivers to stop by, take a time out of their busy day, and tend to their own self care, even if it's just a quiet moment for themselves,” Stoffel said, describing chair massage and other respite opportunities.

The expo item is promotional and informational; no formal actions or policy decisions were announced during the interview. Host Ethel noted logistical information for viewers: the Power of the Age Expo website is www.powerofageexpo.com, and questions about older adults and persons with disabilities may be directed to the Maryland Access Point of Baltimore County (MAP) at (410) 887-2594. The Time of Your Life episode said it can be viewed on the Baltimore County government YouTube channel and that social updates are available via the county’s Facebook page.