For Immediate Release
Contact: Sandy Silverstein
(866) 232-8484 Ext. 126
Nevadans Invited to Free Virtual Alzheimer’s Educational Conference on April 6 Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
NEW YORK (March 15, 2022)— The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free virtual Alzheimer’s educational conference for Nevada residents on Wednesday, April 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. PST as part of the 2022 national Educating America Tour. The conference, which is free and open to everyone, will allow participants to learn from, and ask questions of, health and caregiving experts. To register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour.
“Knowledge is a useful and powerful tool that can help make any situation easier to navigate, especially something as challenging as caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President & CEO. “Connecting families with useful, practical information and support that can help them now and be better prepared for the future is what this conference is all about. Whether Alzheimer’s is affecting your family, you are a caregiver or just want to learn more, you can participate in this free virtual conference from the comfort of your home or office.”
Sessions during the AFA virtual conference will include:
- COVID and Alzheimer’s Disease: The Future of this Interaction – Dylan Wint, M.D., will provide an overview of Alzheimer’s disease and talk about the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease and COVID-19. He will discuss how individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses, and their caregivers, are affected by the pandemic, what we can expect down the line, and what steps can be taken to keep them safe. Dr. Wint is the Interim Director and Director of Education at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas.
- Celebrating Life Through Meaningful Activities– Just because you are diagnosed with dementia does not mean that you cannot live a meaningful life. It is important to continue to enjoy life and participate in activities that make you happy. Jennifer Carson, Ph.D., a gerontologist and Director of the DEER (Dementia Engagement, Education, and Research) Program in the School of Public Health at the University of Nevada, Reno, will discuss research to better understand the meaning and nature of leisure within the context of dementia. She will provide guidance on how to support a loved one’s well-being and help them celebrate life to the fullest through meaningful activities and experiences. This can help reduce stress and improve mood. Dr. Carson is also Project Director of the Dementia Friendly Nevada initiative and Project Director of the NEST Collaborative, a statewide effort that provides volunteer-hosted social support and technology assistance to older adults, adults living with disabilities, and veterans.
- Collaborating as a Dementia Care Team: Critical Ways Families and Health Care Staff Must Work Together – When a dementia-related illness enters your life, it can be overwhelming. As a caregiver, it is a task that you should not take on alone. It is important to have a support structure in place. Kim Warchol, OTR/L, President and Founder of Dementia Care Specialists at Crisis Prevention Institute, will advise caregivers on how to form a dementia care team comprised of family members and professionals. She will highlight some of the most critical areas for collaboration and provide recommendations to optimize effectiveness that can improve diagnosing, treating and caring for dementia.
There will also be a guided chair yoga session led by yoga instructor, Sheryl Oleksak, 500 ERYT, demonstrating how this practice can connect your mind and body and help release tension or stress and increase feelings of safety and comfort.
For more information or to register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour. Those who cannot participate in the virtual conference or have immediate questions about Alzheimer’s disease can connect with licensed social workers seven days a week through AFA’s National Toll-Free Helpline by calling 866-232-8484 or web chatting at www.alzfdn.org by clicking the blue and white chat icon in the right-hand corner of the page. The web chat feature is available in more than 90 languages.
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About Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA)
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias nationwide and to fund research for better treatment and a cure. Its services include a National Toll-Free Helpline (866-232-8484) staffed by licensed social workers, the National Memory Screening Program, educational conferences and materials, and “AFA Partners in Care” dementia care training for healthcare professionals. For more information about AFA, call 866-232-8484, visit www.alzfdn.org, follow us on Twitter or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. AFA has earned Charity Navigator’s top 4-star rating for seven consecutive years.