SPARK: Robin Williams and His Battle with Lewy Body Dementia 

The  LBDA documentary "SPARK" is now available to view for FREE on Mediflix.com. Click the image above to be directed to the video. You will have to create a Mediflix log-in and password first. 

The LBDA is using this educational film to disseminate information about Robin Williams and his battle with undiagnosed Lewy body dementia to promote community and professional awareness and education to those affected by LBD. This documentary provides a deeper dive into the disease including its biology, clinical symptoms, and its impact on both the person with LBD and the primary caregiver(s). 

Click here to view  here to access the SPARK Online CME Course through the Mayo Clinic.  

Click here is a link to additional LBDA outreach educational videos. 

LBDA Lewy Line – 800-539-9767

 Need Help or support? Living with a loved one with Lewy Body Dementia? Are you a professional who works with LBD patients? 

The Lewy Body Dementia Association is here to help! 

The Lewy Line is a helpline specifically for those living with LBD and their loved ones.  It is also helpful for professionals supporting individuals with LBD or presenting symptoms. LBDA Support Services staff and trained volunteers can provide guidance and resources as well as to connect you with support opportunities.

If you are seeking information on care options in your local area,  you may wish to call the Eldercare Locator at: 

1-800-677-1116

 or visit their website by clicking here.

Understanding Lewy Body Dementia 

Lecturer: Dr. Jori Fleisher, MD, MSCE, FAAN

Join Dr. Fleisher, Associate Professor of Neurological Sciences and Director of The Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Center of Excellence at Rush University. She offers an excellent lecture available on Mediflix.com. Click the image above to be directed to the video. You will have to create a Mediflix log-in and password first. 

This lecture will help both healthcare professionals as well as patients and families living with Lewy Body Dementia. LBD is the second most common cause of progressive dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, impacting an estimated 1.4 million people living in the United States. 

Dr. Fleisher  explains the complexities of this often misdiagnosed form of dementia and how it differs from Parkinson’s disease. She  discusses symptoms, current treatment options and common challenges.

LSVT Global and the Lewy Body Dementia Association join in a collaborative webinar.

  Join a host of LSVT BIG and LOUD faculty: 

• Laura Guse, BSPT, MPT 
• Dr. Jennifer Goldman, MD, MS
• Heather Cianci, PT, MS, GCS
• Julia Wood, MOT, OTR/L
• Heather Hodges, MA, CCC-SLP

Did you know LBD is the second most common form of neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer’s disease? Learn more about this complex condition and how PT, OT and SLP can comprehensively address the needs of clients with LBD. Hear from a Movement Disorder Specialist who will provide an overview of the condition, followed by evidence-based treatment strategies for PTs, OTs and SLPs to promote successful person-centered care. The therapist panelists provide a Q&A session following the presentation and case study.

Presented by Dr. Jennifer Goldman and Julia Wood, Occupational Therapist (OT).  

LBD? PDD? DLB? What’s in a name - a lot of confusion! Join us to unpack and gain a better understanding of these complex conditions and how they relate to one another. 

A movement disorder specialist will outline the diagnosis, symptoms and treatment of Lewy body dementia and an occupational therapist will provide guidance on how occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech language pathologists can help you live your best life with Lewy.  

Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance is a nonprofit organization providing people with Parkinson's and other movement disorders as well as their care partners opportunities to learn, live life more fully and connect with other.  

LSVT BIG & LOUD Programs  are customized to each person's specific needs and goals. Thus, they can  help patients regardless of the stage or severity of your condition.

LSVT LOUD is an effective speech therapy treatment for people diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurological conditions.  LSVT LOUD trains people with  LBD and PD to use their voice at a more normal loudness level while speaking at home, work, or in the community. 

LSVT BIG: People living with LBD and PD often have smaller and slower movements, which may result in difficulty dressing, walking and/or getting into and out of a chair. The treatment improves walking, self-care and other tasks by helping patients to “recalibrate” their muscle movements. 

Click the image above to find find more and to locate an LSVT clinician in your area.

Lecturer: Julia Wood MOT, OTR/L  

Please join Julia Wood, the Director of Professional and Community Education at Lewy Body Dementia Association, Inc. She will discuss how to correctly define Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and explain how this condition differs from Alzheimer’s Disease. Julia will also discuss symptomology and identify three multidisciplinary team members who may be effective referral resources for long term treatment management of patients with Lewy Body Dementia. For more information please visit the Lewy Body Dementia Association website here: https://www.lbda.org/ Please SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel to help us continue to help others!

Lecturer: Sara L Wolfson, DNP, APRN  

Sara is a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner who practices at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE. She specializes in dementia care and palliative care. 

Sara  will lend her expertise and offer insight into how to engage in conversations with patients who have serious illness or who are approaching end of life. She will help clinicians develop a framework for thinking about how to structure such conversations, and she will  describe several key skills to approach these discussions with honesty and compassion. This lecture will help APPs who are working in many speciality areas, such as Primary Care, Internal Medicine, Palliative Care, Gerontology, Neurology and Cardiology.

Lecturer: Matthew Estrade, MA, MBA

Matthew is a gerontologist from Louisiana. He has been a care partner support group facilitator since 2015. He has facilitated over 250 sessions for the Council on Aging in St. Tammany Parish (county) in Louisiana. 

Matthew built  www.DementiaRosary.com, an educational platform which offers daily videos, weekly blog articles, and monthly live Rosaries. All of these activities are described in his book: 

The Peace With Dementia Rosary: Education, Intentions, Community

Matthew discussed how to launch dementia support groups within your medical practice, hospital or local community.