Colorado Residents Invited to Free Alzheimer’s Educational Conference on May 17 Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

NEW YORK (April 6, 2023)— The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Educational Conference for Colorado residents on Wednesday, May 17 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the University of Denver’s Fritz Knoebel Events (2044 E. Evans Ave., Denver) as part of its 2023 national Educating America Tour. 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.

“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 May 17.”

Sessions during the AFA conference will include:

• Agitation and Psychosis in Alzheimer’s Disease – Agitation and psychosis are two common symptoms for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, and are among the most challenging behaviors for caregivers to address. Delia Bakeman, DO will talk about these symptoms and how caregivers can most effectively deal with them, including behavioral management techniques, environmental adjustments, and FDA approved medication. 

Dr. Bakeman is a board-certified neurologist and psychiatrist. She is an Assistant Professor of Behavioral Neurology and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the CU (University of Colorado) Anschutz Medical Center in Aurora.

• Advance Care Planning for the Person with Dementia– Estate planning is not just something that you do to protect your loved ones and distribute your assets after you die; it also covers a number of critical decisions that need to be made while your loved one is alive so that their health, legal, and financial wishes are carried out as they would want.  Virginia A. Frazer-Abel, J.D., LL.M, will discuss the importance of estate planning. She will provide an overview of living trusts, powers of attorney, guardianships and conservatorships, as well as how to protect individuals who have lost the ability to manage their personal and financial affairs.

Ms. Frazer-Abel is Principal Attorney of Frazer-Abel Law, LLC in Denver. She is also a member of both the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and the Colorado Bar Association’s Trust and Estates and Elder Law Sections.

• Navigating Alzheimer’s, a Mile at a Time –Travis Macy, of Evergreen, CO, is a renowned endurance athlete who developed his love of endurance sports from his father, Mark, who himself was a pioneer ultrarunner in the mid 1980’s and adventure racer since the early 1990’s. Mark’s diagnosis of young-onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 64 created many changes in their lives. Travis will discuss how Mark’s diagnosis changed their lives, his experiences caring for his father, and how they continue to bond through their love of endurance sports.  

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

For more information or to register for the May 17 conference, visit 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.

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 holds Charity Navigator’s top 4-star rating.