NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In 1980, Anne Brodsky was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. At the time, there was little information on the illness and nowhere to turn for guidance and support. Years after she passed away, her son, Bert Brodsky, set out to ensure that families living with Alzheimer’s disease did not have to face the illness alone. Brodsky founded the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s (AFA) in 2002—15 years ago—as a resource for individuals with Alzheimer’s and related illnesses and their families. Today, AFA has grown to a network of more than 2,600 member organizations nationwide that are dedicated to providing optimal care and services to the more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. In celebration of its 15th anniversary, AFA is kicking off the “AFA Educating America Tour,” a 15-state tour that aims to help people be proactive about brain health and memory concerns.
Each tour stop will include AFA’s signature “Concepts in Care” Educational Conference for family and professional caregivers, individuals with dementia and the community. Attendees will learn from leading dementia and caregiving experts about topics such as clinical trials and research, access to healthcare, transitioning from home to a residential care setting, safeguarding the home environment, long-term care, and perceptions of aging. The tour will also include community memory screening events, where people can take advantage of free, confidential memory screenings, and a display of the AFA Quilt to Remember.
“AFA is here to offer caregivers education, strategies and support to help them succeed at every step of their caregiving journey,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s president and chief executive officer. “What better way to celebrate our 15th anniversary than to travel the country sharing our resources and bringing awareness of the need for greater caregiver supports, treatments and ultimately, a cure for this devastating illness?”
AFA’s 15th Anniversary Educating America Tour, is made possible by the generous sponsorship of premier presenting sponsor, The Edward N. and Della L. Thome Foundation, Bank of America N.A., Trustee; gold sponsors, Allergan, Eli Lilly and Company and Merck; and teal sponsor CVS Health. The tour will make the following stops:
| Location | Date |
| San Francisco, Calif. | February 22 |
| Las Vegas, Nev. | March 7 |
| West Palm Beach, Fla. | March 27 |
| Phoenix, Ariz. | April 5 |
| Tri-State New York/New Jersey area | May 5 |
| Philadelphia, Pa. | May 19 |
| Tennessee/Kentucky | June 7 |
| Charlotte/Raleigh, N.C. | June 20 |
| Virginia/Washington D.C. | September 14 |
| Long Island, N.Y. | September 26 |
| Chicago, Ill. | October 19 |
| Indianapolis, Ind. | TBD |
| Boston, Mass. | October 26 |
Currently, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the only disease in the top 10 leading causes of death without a cure or meaningful treatment. Until there is a cure, education and advocacy is critical for people who are impacted by the disease.
For more information on AFA’s Educating America Tour, visit www.alzfdn.org or call AFA’s national toll-free helpline at 866-232-8484.
About Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA):
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, based in New York, is a non-profit organization that unites more than 2,600 member organizations nationwide in the goal of providing optimal care and services to individuals living with dementia, and to their caregivers and families. Its services include a national, toll-free helpline (866-232-8484) staffed by licensed social workers, educational conferences and materials, a free quarterly magazine for caregivers, the National Memory Screening Program, 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.