West Central Center on Aging

Deborah Cheater, MS, RN
Director of Education
DCheater@uams.edu

Joyce Priddy, LPN
Education Specialist
JPriddy@uams.edu

Lana Howard
Administrative Assistant
ljhoward@uams.edu

612 S 12th St
Fort Smith, AR  72901

479-478-8819

Alzheimer’s/Dementia Programs

Support Groups

Seniors on seminar.

Offering regularly scheduled support groups for individuals caring for older adults in the home, in particular, those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Family Caregiver Workshops

Shot of a young woman going for a walk with her elderly mother in the garden

Free four-hour workshops offered in the community designed to increase family members’ knowledge of caregiving for older adults in the home. We offer an Alzheimer’s/Dementia Workshop and a Physical Skills Workshop. Workshops can be scheduled at your location for groups of ten or more. This workshop is provided by the UAMS Schmieding Home Caregiver Training Program curriculum.

Alzheimer’s Experience/ A Walk in Their Shoes

Dementia and Occupational Therapy - Home caregiver and senior adult woman

This tour is designed to simulate the symptoms that are experienced by an Alzheimer’s/Dementia patient. The experience typically takes about 10 minutes per person and can be offered in multiple settings including special events, faith-based organizations, businesses catering to the senior population and medical facilities.

Caregiver SUCCESS

Mature caucasian woman taking part in a counseling session.

Offering one-on-one sessions with a caregiving coach specializing in caregiving issues for senior adults. In-person or by phone.

Physical/Exercise Programs

Ageless Grace

Teacher and active senior women yoga class on chairs, arms raised,

A group fitness and wellness program that consists of 21 simple exercise tools that are designed for all ages and focuses on exercising the body and mind.

Tai Chi

A multiethnic, coed group of various ages works out together outside in the early morning as the sun rises. They are doing a stretching exercise with their arms extended out in front of them.

This exercise program is designed to improve balance, stability, posture, strength and decrease the risk of falls. Studies have found it to be effective in promoting mental health and cognitive function as well.

Nutrition and Healthy Eating

Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP)

A diverse group of students are indoors in a university. They are taking night classes. A Caucasian senior woman is in front, and she is smiling while watching the lecture.

Participants will attend 6 weekly, two-hour learning sessions where they will get hands-on training in order to better understand food labels, meal planning and other aspects of diabetes care.

Healthy Cooking

Older woman tossing a salad and her husband stirring food in a pot, cooking healthy together

Learn how to shop for and prepare diabetic-friendly meals.