NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) today announced its 2018 “Educating America” Tour, which brings Alzheimer’s-related educational conferences to cities across the country. The tour will be visiting 14 states to raise Alzheimer’s awareness, promote early detection and provide individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, caregivers and the general public with information about Alzheimer’s related programs, support services and research.
Over 5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is expected to as much as triple by 2050.
“Knowledge and awareness are empowering, which is why we are bringing these free educational programs directly into communities throughout 2018,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President & CEO. “As Alzheimer’s continues to affect more and more families, providing resources, education and support remains critical. Whether you want to learn about services available to help with early detection, caregiving and quality of life, get answers from an expert or just find out more about Alzheimer’s, we invite you to join us.”
Each tour stop features a free “Concepts in Care” educational conference that enables participants to learn from, and interact with, leading experts in the Alzheimer’s field. Topics covered at the educational conferences include caregiving strategies and support, safety precautions to protect individuals living with Alzheimer’s, therapeutic programs, healthcare and care planning, improving communication skills and research and public policy. All participants can also receive free, confidential memory screenings, which are quick, easy, noninvasive wellness checkups designed to check cognitive ability. Each screening consists of a series of questions designed to test memory, language and thinking skills. Results are provided on-site (results are not a diagnosis of a particular medical condition, but a memory screening can suggest if someone should see a physician for a full evaluation).
“As a former family caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, I know first-hand the challenges that caregivers face. No one should have to deal with those challenges alone,” said Bert Brodsky, AFA’s Founder, Board Chairman and past participant in the tour’s caregiver panels. “We want everyone to know about the resources and information available to help them in their time of need, because education is an invaluable support tool.”
“The Alzheimer tsunami is on us NOW,” said Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, a member of AFA’s Medical, Scientific and Memory Screening Advisory Board and Director of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. “We need to respond and one of our most effective tools in this battle is education – education of the signs of Alzheimer’s, how to recognize it, how to diagnose it, how to help make the lives of patients and caregivers better, how to treat it, and how to get into clinical trials for important new therapies. These are the messages of hope that are available through the AFA’s Educating America Tour. Please attend.”
2018 tour dates:
- San Diego, CA: February 20th
- Tempe, AZ: March 9th
- Boston, MA: March 19th
- Nashville, TN: April 13th
- Atlanta, GA: April 24th
- Birmingham, AL: May 1st
- New York, NY: May 18th
- Milwaukee, WI: June 14th
- Fairfax, VA: September 27th
2018 tour dates and locations in the following states will be announced:
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Texas
2018 marks the second leg of the multi-year national tour. Last year, AFA’s Educating America provided education and resources to individuals in California, Nevada, Florida, Alabama, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Kentucky, Washington, DC, North Carolina, Indiana and Illinois.
For more information about the Educating America Tour or to register to attend one of the free educational conferences, please visit AFA’s website, 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, the National Memory Screening Program, educational conferences and materials, a free quarterly magazine for caregivers 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.
CONTACT: Sandy Silverstein
866-232-8484, ext. 104
ssilverstein@alzfdn.org