National Alzheimer’s & Caregiver Educational Conference Coming to Denver March 12

NEW YORK (February 11, 2020)— The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s (AFA) 2020 national Educating America Tour is coming to Denver on Thursday, March 12 with a free Alzheimer’s and caregiver educational conference at the University of Denver, Craig Hall (1745 S. High Street) from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The conference, which is free and open to everyone, is designed to connect people with information about Alzheimer’s disease, brain health, and dementia caregiving.  Participants have the opportunity to interact with Alzheimer’s experts, ask questions, network, and obtain a free memory screening.

“More than 73,000 Coloradans are living with Alzheimer’s disease; many others are caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s.  As those numbers grow, it’s critically important to connect people with information that can help them if Alzheimer’s enters their lives,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President and Chief Executive Officer.  “This conference will help individuals learn about Alzheimer’s disease, caring for someone who has Alzheimer’s and support resources that are available to help.  We invite everyone to attend.” 

There will be several informative sessions led by dementia and caregiving experts, including:

 Unraveling Alzheimer’s Disease –  George Perry, Ph.D., will provide an overview of Alzheimer’s disease, an update on Alzheimer’s research and clinical trials, and what we can expect on the horizon.  Dr. Perry is a Professor of Biology and the Semmes Foundation Distinguished University Chair in Neurobiology at the University of Texas at San Antonio.  He is also a member of AFA’s Medical, Scientific and Memory Screening Advisory Board.

 Creating Your Long Term Care Team –  Having a strong network is essential for caregivers to reduce stress, prevent burnout, and ultimately provide the best care possible.  Eva Veitch, Director of Community Living Services for Region 10, in Montrose, Colorado, will offer important tips on how to build that support structure to aid in caregiving.   She will also provide tips for long term care planning.  Eva will talk about preparing for the unexpected, prioritizing and delegating responsibilities.  She will also discuss when it is time to involve professionals, and the importance of self-care. 

Innovative Activities – Preserving Functional Ability – Learn how thinking outside the box when programming activities allows for greater success and helps maintain high level of functioning.  Alisa Tagg, BA ACC/EDU CADDCT CDP CDCS, Activity Consultant and President of the National Association of Activity Professionals, will discuss the importance of activity programming in helping someone with Alzheimer’s disease improve their quality of life.  She will teach new, innovative programming ideas and share examples of personal experiences to help make caregivers’ lives a little easier.  Alisa will provide tips on how you can turn daily activities into opportunities for joy, and how to make quality use of leisure time. 

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

Registration is free and open to all.  For more information or to register, please visit www.alzfdn.org/tour. Those who can’t attend the conference or have immediate questions about Alzheimer’s disease can contact AFA’s National Toll-Free Helpline at 866-232-8484, or through the Internet at www.alzfdn.org, seven days a week.

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 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 or LinkedIn.  AFA has earned Charity Navigator’s top 4-star rating for five consecutive years.