Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health Announces New Virtual Caregiver Schedule
While Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health will not hold any site-based programming at its facility until further notice, the center will now be offering virtual education, support and therapeutic programs.
All programs are designed for family and professional caregivers, featuring topics of interest to those who care for individuals with ALS, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, Dementia and other neurocognitive disorders. Complementing excellent patient care, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is focused on providing supportive services and programs to caregivers and family members, maximizing their knowledge, skills and capacity to provide care.
By leveraging technology, participants will be able to join classes through the computer, tablet or smartphone. Participants can simply reach out to the contact for each program of interest, and will receive customized instructions on how to join the group session. For additional information contact Verla Niebuhr at 702.483.6055 or niebuhv@ccf.org or visit the patient and family services program calendar at ClevelandClinic.org/NevadaEvents.
Lynne Ruffin-Smith e-Library for Remote Access
The Lynne Ruffin-Smith Library offers an e-Library selection of resources. People in rural and remote areas of Nevada, as well as those who can’t visit the library at the Clinic, can now access e-Books from their computer, phone, tablet or iPad®. To check out materials from the e-Library register as a library patron and obtain a patron number (library card number) by visiting the library Mondays – Fridays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. or call 702.483.6033. Remote access can be gained by visiting keepmemoryalive.org/library. Contact the Library, louruvolibrary@ccf.org, for additional information.
Therapeutic Services:
- Group Music Therapy
Mondays from 1 – 2:30 p.m.; Tuesdays from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.; Wednesdays from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.; Thursdays from 3 – 4 p.m.; Fridays from 1 – 2 p.m.
This group combines music and therapeutic techniques for each individual while also fostering friendships. Music therapy has many benefits for patients and caregivers impacted by memory or movement disorders, including providing opportunities for memory recall, decreasing feelings of stress, anxiety and depression, increasing language and communication skills, aiding in regulating gait and movement coordination and improving social interactions and emotional connections with family and caregivers. Contact Becky for online access and information at wellmar@ccf.org or 702.701.7895.
- Yoga for MS
Wednesdays from 1 – 2 p.m.; option to stay online from 2 – 2:30 p.m. for support group
Fridays from 1 -2 p.m.; option to join the support group from 12:30 – 1 p.m.
Yoga helps patients be intuitive with their body and understand the challenges and changes they are going through. With this program, our goal is to provide a safe space for patients, and their loved ones, to participate in physical activity and experience the many benefits that come from practicing yoga. Contact Sandy for online access and information at ChapmaS6@ccf.org or 702.778.7000.
Conversations to Remember
Monday, April 13 from 11 a.m. – noon – April Showers Bring May Flowers
Monday, April 27 from 11 a.m. – noon – With a Little Help from My Friends
Telling stories through art is fun and can foster creative thinking and stimulate distant memories in individuals experiencing memory loss. Let art pieces drive conversations toward new discovery, personal history and that of fellow companions. Contact LouRuvoSocialServ@ccf.org for online access or call Verla at 702.271.9563.
Support Group Schedule:
FOR CARE PARTNERS ONLY
- Frontotemporal Disorders (FTD) and Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)
Wednesday, April 15 and May 6 from 6:30 – 8 p.m.
This group is held for adult family members who provide care and/or support for loved ones with frontotemporal disorders and primary progressive aphasia. Contact Ruth for online access and additional information at almenr2@ccf.org or call 702.483.6054.
- Memory Loss for Caregiver Support Group
Every Wednesday from 1:15 – 2:45 p.m.
Every Thursday from 1 – 1:45 p.m. and 2 – 2:45 p.m.
This group is held for adult family members who provide care and/or support for loved ones with memory loss, facilitated by Dr. Carriere, PhD. Contact Dr. Carriere for online access and additional information at lrcbhhealthpsych@ccf.org or call 702.778.6702.
- Dementia with Lewy Body (DLB)
Monday, April 20 from 12 – 1 p.m.
This group is held for adult family members who provide care and/or support for loved ones with dementia with Lewy body. Contact Ruth for online access and additional information at almenr2@ccf.org or call 702.483.6054.
- Parkinson’s Disease (PD): “Henderson” Parkinson’s
Wednesday, April 22 and May 6 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
This group is held for adult family members who provide care and/or support for loved ones with Parkinson’s disease. Contact Michelle for online access and additional information at pesterm@ccf.org or call 702.483.6006.
FOR INDIVIDUALS AND CARE PARTNERS
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
Monday, April 13 and April 27 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
This is a support group for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) care partners, facilitated by Ruth Almén, LCSW. Contact Ruth for online access and additional information at almenr2@ccf.org or call 702.483.6054.
- Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
This group is held for early stage individuals and adult family members who provide care and/or support for loved ones with Parkinson’s disease. Contact Michelle for online access and additional information at pesterm@ccf.org or call 702.483.6006.
- Huntington’s Disease (HD)
Thursday, April 16 and April 30 from noon – 1 p.m.
This group is held for gene positive individuals (asymptomatic and early stage) and adult family members. Contact Michelle for online access and additional information at pesterm@ccf.org or call 702.483.6006.
In Honor of Barbara “Spicy Lady” Edmonds – Lunch & Learn Educational Series
Wednesdays from noon – 1 p.m.
Enjoy Lunch & Learn live, complete with open chat box conversations where you can raise your hand electronically and ask questions. Live or past recordings can be viewed at www.CCLunchLearn.com.
- April 15: The Intersection of Medical Illness and Brain Disease – Dylan Wint, MD, Cleveland Clinic
Brain health and illness are profoundly affected by the status of the rest of the body. This talk will discuss some of the ways that medical illnesses influence neurodegenerative disorders.
- April 22: Coping with the Uncertainty of a Chronic Illness – Lucille Carriere, PhD, Cleveland Clinic
Living with a neurodegenerative disease is challenging for all who are affected, including those diagnosed and their care partners. This talk will discuss strategies to manage the stress of ‘not knowing’ how to regain a sense of control, maximize quality of life, and how to harness your medical and social support system to thrive while living with a neurodegenerative disease.
- April 29: Occupational Therapy: Living Life to its Fullest – Madisen Mendez, OTR/L, Cleveland Clinic
Occupational Therapy is designed to help you accomplish the tasks you want – and need – to do each day. Learn a little about the history behind this unique discipline, interventions that address deficits that may arise for persons with neurocognitive challenges, and activities you can do at home to keep your brain and body occupied and energized.
- May 6: How Healthy is your Brain – Kat Hartley, Cleveland Clinic
Occupational Therapy is designed to help you accomplish the tasks you want – and need – to do each day. Learn a little about the history behind this unique discipline, interventions that address deficits that may arise for persons with neurocognitive challenges, and activities you can do at home to keep your brain and body occupied and energized.
Actively Recruiting Clinical Trials and Research Studies:
- DELIVER-MS
Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is now recruiting eligible participants for the DELIVER-MS study. The purpose of the global, multi-center study, led by Cleveland Clinic, is to compare the benefits and risks of two common treatment approaches for multiple sclerosis to determine which is the better course. Men and women ages 18 to 60 who have been diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, are early in their disease course, and have not yet started a disease modifying therapy will be eligible to participate. Additionally, interested participants must be able to show evidence of new MRI lesions or have had relapses over the past 12 months, be able to walk independently or with assistance, and be eligible and willing to follow up at Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health during the course of the study.
Those interested in enrolling should contact Nicolette Harmon at 702.701.7972.
- TANGO Study
Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is now recruiting eligible participants for the TANGO study. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of BIIB092 in participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or with mild AD. Men and women ages 50 – 80, who have been diagnosed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Those interested in enrolling are encouraged to call the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at 855.568.7886 or email brainhealth@ccf.org.