Free Alzheimer’s educational conference set for March 15

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Educational Conference for Georgia residents on Wednesday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of its 2023 national Educating America Tour.

The event will be held at Emory University, Miller-Ward Alumni House, 815 Houston Mill Road NE. The free conference is open to everyone and will allow participants to learn from experts in the field of Alzheimer’s disease, brain health, and caregiving. To register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour. Advanced registration is highly recommended.

Free, confidential memory screenings will be conducted throughout the day.

“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 about brain health, we invite you to join us on March 15.”

Sessions during the AFA conference will include:

■ Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s: What You Need to Know –

When their loved ones are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, many caregivers do not know much about the disease or what steps to take next. Monica W. Parker, MD, will provide a general overview of

Alzheimer’s disease. She will describe signs and symptoms as well as the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia. She will provide tips on how to reduce your risk for memory loss and where to seek a proper diagnosis. Dr. Parker is a Geriatric Medicine Specialist with Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. .

■ Planning for Incapacity – It is important for families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease to make sure that they have the right legal documents in place. Estate planning is not just something that you do to protect your loved ones after you die. Certified Elder Law Attorney, Heather Nadler, Esq., will explain that a major part of estate planning is incapacity planning. She will describe this with an overview of living trusts, powers of attorney, guardianships and conservatorships. She will advise on how to protect individuals who have lost the ability to manage their personal and financial affairs. Nadler is a Partner at the firm of Nadler Biernath Special Needs and Elder Law in Atlanta.

■ Reimagining Alzheimer’s Disease Education, Diagnosis, and Support: A Town and Gown Partnership to Serve Persons in Medically Underserved Communities – Access to healthcare and services is essential for the more than 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, however, not everyone has the same resources available to them. For example, individuals in rural communities may have a harder time visiting a doctor, clinic, or pharmacy than people in larger communities because there may not be any in close proximity. Lisa Renzi-Hammond, PhD and Eve Anthony will talk about the need to bridge the gap in services and how to best connect providers and patients. They will talk about how getting local doctors, nurses and pharmacists on board will help foster communication about cognitive health and disease prevention. They will also discuss the need for early diagnosis and intervention.

For more information or to register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour. Those who cannot participate in the 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.

— Rough Draft