Learning to Dance with Dementia:
When to Lead, When to Follow and When to Get Out of the Way

FLAT ROCK, N.C. Originally scheduled in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, a free dementia workshop is back on the calendar at The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness. “Learning to Dance with Dementia: When to Lead, When to Follow and When to Get Out of the Way” will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2025 from 1 pm until 3:30 pm in the Parish Hall across the street from the church, located at 1905 Greenville Highway in Flat Rock.

Unlock the secrets to compassionate and effective dementia care at this workshop with Mary Donnelly, a dynamic dementia consultant. This interactive session offers insight and strategies to help caregivers navigate the delicate balance of communicating with a person whose brain is changing.

Discover how to harmonize your approach with the unique needs of the person in your care, fostering a more fulfilling less stressful caregiving experience. Join us to enhance your skills and learn how to dance gracefully through the challenges of dementia care.

Dementia has and is touching so many of our loved ones, including event organizer Ronnie Doty. “I began this journey of dementia with my husband,” Doty said. “I used every resource available so I could know what lies ahead. If you are informed about the disease you can become a much better caregiver.”

Limited seating is available for this seminar but participants must RSVP by visiting http://bit.ly/dancewithdementia. For more information call the church office at 828-693-9783.

More on the Presenter

Mary Donnelly is past Board President for MemoryCare, a nationally-recognized nonprofit clinic in Asheville. She founded and coordinates the MemoryCaregivers Network, writes a bi-monthly e-newsletter, Caregiver Network News, and is part of the teaching staff for their annual caregiver education series. She is the author of The MemoryCaregivers Collection, an anthology for MemoryCare. Mary is also on the staff of national dementia expert Teepa Snow, holding multiple roles as Trainer, Consultant, Mentor, and Speaker. Mary serves on the Steering Committee of Dementia Friendly Western North Carolina, a grassroots organization promoting dementia awareness and education. She facilitates five area support groups, provides family consulting across the country, offers on-site staff dementia training for long-term care facilities, and is a lively speaker on dementia-related issues.