Dementia Support

Wednesdays; August 26, September 9 & 23, October 14 & 28, November 11 & 25, December 9, 2026
12:30 p.m.-2 p.m.
Black River Beach Neighborhood Center
FREE
Registration required; Register anytime
Call (608) 789-8640 to register

Connect Smart offers fun and engaging creative activities for people living with dementia. This program offers small group sessions with activities to help people living with dementia maintain physical, social, emotional and cognitive skills, including movement, art and music.

Mondays; September 14, October 5, November 9, & December 7, 2026
5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. | Black River Beach Neighborhood Center | FREE

Looking for support with Parkinson's Disease? You are not alone. This support group is for care partners and persons who are living with a Parkinson’s diagnosis. Members will have an opportunity to ask questions, share resources, and learn tips from one another for how to proactively manage Parkinson’s. No pre-registration is required. Contact: STAR Center /
(608) 797-6295 / info@starcenterlacrosse.org

Wednesdays; August 19, September 16, October 21, November 18, December 16, 2026
5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. | South Side Neighborhood Center

Open to all individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and their family and friends. Each month individuals will gather for games, crafts, food, and socialization. No pre-registration is required. Contact STAR Center at (608) 797-6295 or at info@starcenterlacrosse.org.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | Holmen Area Community Center

Thursday, October 8, 2026 | West Salem Library

FREE | **Registration Deadline: One day prior to event**

To Schedule a 30-minute appointment: Call ADRC at (608) 785-5700

Similar to other health screenings, a brain checkup is a wellness tool for identifying possible changes in cognition or capture a baseline to allow for conversation and preplanning. Resources and support are available. Results are free and confidential. NOT intended for people undergoing diagnosis or care for a cognitive impairment/dementia diagnosis.

Supporting Emotional Health: Agitation in Demetia and Depression in Aging

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Black River Beach Neighborhood Center

**Registration Required; Registration Deadline: Monday, October 12, 2026**

To register, call the ADRC at (608) 785-5700

9:30 a.m.– Doors Open

10 a.m.– Presentations by Dr. Elizabeth Cogbill & Katie Germain, NP (Emplify Health)

Catered Lunch

Afternoon session concludes by 2 p.m.

Join us for a two‑part program focused on understanding agitation and depression—two common and often misunderstood mental health concerns affecting older adults and their families. Because stigma still surrounds both mental illness and dementia, many people struggle without support. We will explore agitation, a frequent symptom among individuals living with dementia and discuss how it presents, why it occurs, and practical strategies for responding. Next we will discuss depression, a serious mood disorder that affects many people regardless of age or background. This discussion will help attendees recognize depression and understand its growing impact on our communities. Event is funded by the Kathy & Jack Lucey Family Fund for Alzheimer’s.

All Stages Dementia Caregiver Support Group

Tuesdays; September 8, October 13, November 10 & December 8, 2026

1:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Good Shepherd (4141 Mormon Coulee Rd. La Crosse)

FREE | Registration Required; Call the ADRC at (608) 785-5700 to register

A supportive and confidential space for caregivers of individuals at any stage of dementia. Join otherswho understand the challenges of caregiving to share experiences, insights, advice, andencouragement. The group is led by a former caregiver and trained facilitator and offers an opportunityto connect, learn from one another, and find mutual support. Questions? Contact Kathy: (608)386-8908.

Learn & Connect - Cognitive & Memory Loss Education

Thursdays; October 8, 15, 22 & 29, 2026

1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.

Gundersen Health East Bldg.– Neurology (3 Floor Room A - 724 Denton St. La Crosse)rd

Call the ADRC to register: (608) 785-5700 *only two family members per person with mci/dementia

Dementia Diagnosis: What Now? Take the guess work out of your first or next step on the dementia journey. Join this informative class series for patients and care partners. You will learn information for daily living with your diagnosis including practical tools to guide you through care planning and resources for maintaining independence. Ideal for newly diagnosed, early-onset, and early-stage dementias.

October 8, 2026: Legal and Financial Matters, Future Planning For Care

October 15, 2026: Partner with your medical team and be Informed about your diagnosis and what to

expect as it progresses

October 22, 2026: Maximize Independence and Connect Local (retaining yourself through the journey,

referencing community opportunities for safety, adaptive supports, programs)

October 29, 2026: What else should I be thinking about? – Social supports, safety, setting boundaries, grief

Dementia Live - Experience What it May be Like to Live with Dementia

Wednesday, December 9, 2026

9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Black River Beach Neighborhood Center

Open to the public | Call the ADRC at (608) 785-5700 to register

Dementia Live® offers an ‘inside-out’ understanding of the changes experienced with dementia by immersing participants into what it may be like to live with it. By “walking in their shoes,” participants will gain a heightened awareness and leave with valuable tips and tools to improve communication and connection. This experience is free and great for community members, families, and professionals to better understand dementia. Opportunities held at various locations throughout the year.