Coping with Dementia 13th Annual Care Partner Conference
Announces Speaker Line-Up
We are very excited to announce that Dr. Joshua Freitas from Certus Premier Memory Care Community will be the Keynote Speaker this year, but we have such a great line of speakers, Johnnie Jones III from Elder Options, which is our aging resource for 16 counties in Florida, Dr. Franchesca Arias is an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida, emphasis on neurodegenerative disorders, Sharon Doncourt, from Sumter County Sheriff Office, Victims Advocate.
There will be live music, light breakfast and lunch, there will be more than 40 information tables offering free resources and programs useful to families living with dementia.
Event organizer Debbie Selsavage states, “We make every effort to address our attendees in everyday language, to provide them with the information to have the best quality of life while living and caring for a person with dementia”.
This is the 13th Annual Coping with Dementia Care Partner Conference. It will take place on Thursday April 9, 2026, at The Chet Cole Enrichment Center located at 5325 W Safari Ln, Lecanto, FL. This popular educational event, which will run from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. is free, open to the public, including the person living with dementia.
The Coping with Dementia Care Partner Conference doors will open at 9:00 a.m., speakers/ welcome will start at 10:00 a.m. For more information, please call Debbie at 352-422-3663 to R.S.V.P. or email deb@coping.today to reserve your seat now before it is sold out. Scan the QR code to reserve your spot now! Hope to see you there!
Coping with Dementia 13th Care Partner Conference
Announces Keynote Speaker
We are very excited to announce that Dr. Joshua Freitas will be the Keynote Speaker at this year’s 13th Annual Coping with Dementia Care Partner Conference. He is the Clinical Research Officer at Certus Institute, Program Developer, educator and author.
He holds more than five certifications related to dementia care and has studied at some of the world’s most renowned colleges and universities. Mr. Freitas has completed his doctoral degree in Clinical Gerontology and Aging Neuroscience. Mr. Freitas believes a dementia diagnosis should not be viewed as the end of life and to break the stigmas that impede progress and quality care, we must all advocate for those with memory
Coping with Dementia 13th Care Partner Conference
Announces Speaker Line-Up
We are very excited to announce that Mr. Johnnie Jones III, Coordinator of Caregiving Support and Training for Elder Options, is the Mid-Florida agency on ageing. Johnnie holds several certifications and has more than 25 years in the health industry, and more than 15 years as a trainer and educator. One of the most popular courses Elder Options offers is The Savvy Caregiver Training, this is an evidence-based course to help the caregivers have the best opportunity to understand dementia and how to best care and support that person. But Elder Options offers so much more.
Dr. Franchesca Arias is an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida. Clinically, Dr. Arias provides comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations across a range of conditions, with a particular emphasis on neurodegenerative disorders and cognition in the context of advanced-stage disease.
Dr. Arias is the recipient of the 2025 Fixel Institute Early Researchers Catalyst Award, which supports her efforts to promote engagement of community partners in research and expand access to neuropsychological services for underserved populations in Alachua County. Dr. Arias has secured funding from the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institute on Mental Health to advance her program of research and has worked to examine the association between socioeconomic status, healthcare access, and neighborhood characteristics and acute as well as long-term cognitive functioning in older adults. Long-term, Dr. Arias’ goal is to use a community-informed lens to identify modifiable factors that promote cognitive resilience and inform equitable intervention strategies.
We are very excited to announce that Ms. Sharon Doncourt, Director of Victim Services with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Sharon Howard has lived in Citrus County since 2013. In her role at the Sheriff's Office, Sharon became heavily involved in responding to individuals in the community with dementia. Seeing a need to help support care partners. Sharon wrote a grant to receive funding to purchase locative technology to help improve the safe recovery of individuals with dementia who wander from home. She is a care partner for her mother who is currently living with dementia. She is passionate about supporting other care partners and improving law enforcement's response to individuals with dementia and their families.
