Improv for Dementia Care: Build Connection in Midland, Michigan

Improv for Dementia Care at 5501 Jefferson Avenue in Midland, Michigan offers caregivers, family members and health professionals a practical, humane toolkit for everyday connection. In a two-hour, no-cost workshop led by Karen Stobbe and Mondy Carter, participants learn how simple improvisational theater principles—listening, acceptance, playful presence—can reshape the way they communicate with people living with dementia. The session meets at 5501 Jefferson Avenue, Midland, MI 48640, and requires preregistration because space is limited.

Karen Stobbe brings decades of theater education and dementia-care advocacy; her work on projects like the Hand in Hand Training Toolkit and presentations at Johns Hopkins and TEDMED grounds the exercises in clinical relevance. Mondy Carter, an actor and long‑time caregiver, translates those principles into patient, practical strategies for daily interactions. Together they guide role‑based drills, short games, and real‑world scenarios that emphasize validation, nonverbal attunement, and building confidence without relying on memory.

Expect active participation: warmups that sharpen attention, paired exercises that model empathetic responses, and debriefs that show how to adapt each technique to home, assisted‑living, or clinical settings. The curriculum favors low‑barrier practices—yes‑and acceptance, slowing speech, using sensory cues—that caregivers can use immediately. Participants leave with a set of repeatable prompts and communication experiments to try with loved ones or clients.

Facilitators also provide reproducible cues and written exercises to take back to your setting, and they encourage pairing with another caregiver for practice. The workshop emphasizes low-cost, low-tech tools—everyday objects, music, and gesture—so techniques are portable across home and institutional settings. Space is limited and registration is required; organizers recommend registering early, notifying the hosts of accessibility needs, and arriving prepared to engage and practice in a group environment together.

This workshop stands out in Midland’s caregiving landscape because it bridges performing arts and practical health care, offering an evidence‑informed alternative to strictly clinical approaches. It’s a community resource: free to attend, led by practitioners who have lived experience, and designed for family members, nursing‑home staff, adult‑day providers, and home‑health workers. The setting in Midland makes it easy for regional caregivers to access reusable tools without travel to a conference.

Plan to arrive early to sign in and settle; bring a notebook and an openness to try unfamiliar techniques. The two‑hour format is compact but intensive, so expect to practice and receive real‑time feedback. Prepares you to replace correction with curiosity and to find moments of shared joy even on challenging days. Whether you’re a professional seeking new interaction strategies or a family member aiming to reconnect, this workshop offers a practical, uplifting approach that reframes caregiving as collaborative improvisation. Pre‑registration is required; check the referral link for booking information and confirm age requirements—the session is intended for adults 18 and older.