UW Dementia Caregiver Program Members Featured in PBS Screenings in Cheyenne and Riverton

Two free public screenings of the role of caregivers for people living with dementia -- recently featured in a Wyoming PBS documentary -- will take place next month in Cheyenne and in Riverton.

“A State of Mind: The Caregivers,” part of the Wyoming PBS documentary series exploring the mental health crisis in the state, features several members of the Wyoming Dementia Together (WDT) family. WDT is a statewide, nonprofit caregiver network operating through the University of Wyoming’s Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA).

The first public screening of the program will be held in Cheyenne from 5-6:30 p.m. Monday, July 1, in the Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium at Laramie County Community College, located at 1400 E. College Drive.

The second screening will take place in Riverton from 5-6:30 p.m. Monday, July 22, in the Little Theater at Central Wyoming College, located at 2660 Peck Ave.

The journey of Kent Shurtleff, of Riverton, a participant in the WDT program and a longtime caregiver for his wife, Minnie, is featured prominently. The expertise of two members of the WDT team also is featured: Carol Taylor, from Jackson, and UW’s Sabine Schenck, WDT facilitator.

The “State of Mind” episode featuring WDT members can be found here. The screenings in Cheyenne and Riverton will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.

WDT meets by Zoom call every other Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Programs feature guest speakers and allow time for interaction from those who attend online. WDT includes dementia care professionals, licensed clinical social workers, a neuropsychologist, an occupational therapist and caregivers themselves. WDT began meeting in fall 2020 and since has been offering online programming help.

For information about registering for Zoom calls or other free services offered by WDT, call WyCOA at (307) 766-2829 or email wycoa@uwyo.edu.

More information is available online on the WDT Caregiver Network website.