Dementia Caregiver Conference planned for January 10

The St. Johns County Dementia Care and Cure Initiative (DCCI) Task Force has announced it will hold a Dementia Caregiver Conference from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 10, 2026, at River House, 179 Marine St., St Augustine. The event is being hosted by St. Johns County Council on Aging and sponsored by Haven Hospice.

Speakers at the event will include Dr. Melanie Chandler of the Mayo Clinic at 10 a.m. and Donna Lee of the Alzheimer’s Association at 10:30 a.m.

Qualified staff will be present during the event to provide supervision to those with dementia whose caregiver is unable to secure another means of supervision for their loved one. 

There is no cost to attend the conference; however, advance registration is required by Dec. 12. To register, go to coasjc.org/dementia-caring-task-force.

The DCCI Task Force is a state Department of Elder Affairs sponsored program that aims to build a more inclusive, kinder, respectful and aware communities regarding those living with and affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

It has six initiatives: 

• Educating business owners and their employees on how to be a dementia caring business

• Partnering with local health care providers to offer free/reduced-cost dementia screenings at public spaces

• Sharing resource materials in public areas and high traffic locations

• Creating more in-person caregiver support groups

• Creating Memory Cafes

• Hosting an annual Caregiver Conference

To learn more, go to coasjc.org/dementia-caring-task-force.