AFTD Webinar: Living the Grief of FTD – November 12, 2020

Learn ways to live with grief, build resilience, and have hope while dealing with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) from Mary O’Hara, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker, during a webinar on Thursday, November 12, 2020. The presentation “Living the Grief of FTD — The Winding Paths of Loss, Love, and Resilience” begins at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (11:30 a.m. PST) and will last about 90 minutes.

In FTD, losses begin with the first presenting symptoms. Even before a diagnosis, persons diagnosed and their families experience tremendous fear and worry — which, over time, develop into feelings of grief and loss as more about the diagnosis is understood, accepted, and integrated into daily life. This ongoing grief remains a companion throughout the illness and beyond. In FTD, grief is unique in that it can feel unrecognized, difficult to process, and compounded by the challenges of day-to-day caregiving.

This webinar is part of AFTD’s education series. It will offer helpful information on:

• Understanding the impact of loss and grief in our lives, physically, emotionally, and spiritually
• Recognizing the grief inherent in the FTD journey and discuss the role of grief in caregiving
• Exploring ways to live alongside grief, build resilience, and hold on to hope

Mary O’Hara, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 15 years of experience working with families living with dementia. Her practice is focused on helping families understand, integrate, and cope with a dementia diagnosis. She helps navigate the unique and challenging symptoms that an FTD diagnosis presents, and she serves as an advocate to ensure families have access to appropriate support, resources, and care. Additionally, she is a co-facilitator of the FTD and PPA Caregiver Support group in Denver, CO.

Watch the recorded webinar below.