| Nation Marks National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month | 
President Obama issued an official proclamation on November 1 to mark the beginning of National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month.
To join the nation in raising awareness of the disease, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) each November hosts National Commemorative Candle Lighting (NCCL) and National Memory Screening Day (NMSD).
On NCCL on November 13, hundreds of community sites across the country will help remember and honor individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses by lighting candles of care. To find a site, visit www.candlelighting.org.
NMSD will be held on November 15, with more than 2,500 community sites from coast-to-coast offering free, confidential screenings. In addition to the screenings, each site will also offer literature about Alzheimer's disease and successful aging. AFA suggests memory screenings for people with memory concerns, a family history of Alzheimer's disease or who want to check their memory now and for future comparison. The screening results are not a diagnosis, but they indicate whether someone should have a follow-up exam with a doctor. For more information or to find a screening location, visit www.nationalmemoryscreening.org.
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Alzheimer's Disease Coalition Issues Recommendations to Stop Alzheimer's Disease
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More than 40 leading organizations working to combat Alzheimer's disease through research, drug discovery and care last week unveiled their dramatic recommendations to stop Alzheimer's disease. The coalition called Leaders Engaged on Alzheimer's disease (LEAD) directed its report to the Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care and Services-the committee tasked with advising federal officials on the first-ever national action plan to deal with this growing health crisis. Among the recommendations are calls to: triple the amount of funding for research; create incentives to drive investment in new Alzheimer's disease therapies; reduce healthcare costs and improve quality of care for people with Alzheimer's disease by implementing proven models of care and developing assistive services for family caregivers; and building a skilled dementia care workforce to prepare for the explosion in Alzheimer's disease cases. LEAD is co-facilitated by AFA and USAgainstAlzheimer's. AFA last month issued a white paper, entitled "No Time to Waste," that outlines its bold strategies for an integrated national plan. Its report was likewise sent to the Advisory Council. AFA's CEO, Eric J. Hall, is among the non-federal members of the Advisory Council. |
| Report Shows Recession May Have Hit Older Adults the Hardest | 
Older adults may face the most difficult time recovering from the recession that lasted from 2007 to 2009, and are concerned mostly about having enough savings now and adequate income during retirement, according to a new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Challenges include retirement savings hurt by the sharp declines in financial markets and home equity, as well as rising medical costs. In addition, unemployed adults 65 and older are having a more difficulty finding full-time employment-spending 31 weeks to find full-time work, compared to 11 weeks for workers 55 to 64. "The major challenges for older adults are that they have less time before retirement to make up for these losses, and they typically face greater medical expenses," the report concluded in part. |
| Country Artists Pay Tribute to Glen Campbell at Country Music Awards |
 | | Glen Campbell |
Several of country music's greatest artists came together at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards last night to pay tribute to renowned singer Glen Campbell, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease this past June.
As Campbell watched from the audience, artists Vince Gill, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley, accompanied by songwriter/composer Jimmy Webb, paid tribute to Campbell by singing some of his greatest hits.
Campbell, an Arkansas native known for his singing and guitar-playing, rose to stardom in the 60's and 70's, and has recorded more than 70 albums and sold 45 million records over his 50-year career. Currently, he is performing in cities across the country as part of a farewell tour.
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News to Use:
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- Have questions regarding elder financial abuse? Call in for free advice today until 6 p.m. (ET) from members of the Financial Planning Association, National Adults Protective Services Association, and healthcare professionals. The all-day event is sponsored by the Investor Protection Trust and Investor Protection Institute. For financial abuse questions, call 888.303.3297; general finance questions, 888.227.1776; and medical questions, 888.303.0430. - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced this week that Medicare beneficiaries now have access to free preventive services to help reduce cardiovascular disease, as part of the new healthcare reform law. CMS will cover one face-to-face visit each year to primary care practitioners for these services, such as a screening for hypertension and reviewing a healthy diet. - Take a tour of AFA's "House of Care" to learn about what can be done to resolve behavioral challenges and improve activities of daily living for people with dementia, as experienced in each room of the house. The interactive feature is part of www.carecrossroads.org, AFA's newest Web site for family caregivers.
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News Update
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- Scientists begin to zero in on the role of Hirano bodies in Alzheimer's disease...Scientists trying to understand the role of Hirano bodies, tiny proteins found in nerve cells in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, have found that they may play a protective role in these diseases. The scientists will now test whether Hirano bodies reduce cell death in the brain in a mouse. Read More...
- Plaques and tangles found in individuals with severe depression...Researchers found that older adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) had significant amounts of plaques and tangles throughout their brain--just like the plaques and tangles that are the hallmark characteristics of Alzheimer's disease. They accumulated in critical brain regions, including the posterior cingulated and lateral temporal areas that are in part responsible for decision-making, complex reasoning, memory and emotions. The scientists used a chemical marker called FDDNP and positron emission tomography (PET) scans to detect the accumulation of abnormal brain proteins in 20 adults aged 60 to 82. Read More...
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  Connect with AFA on Facebook and Twitter! |
If you have a question or concern that you would like to discuss with a social worker, please write info@alzfdn.org or call (toll-free) 866-AFA-8484.
© 2011 Alzheimer's Foundation of America
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Eat a Chip...Raise Awareness
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AFA marked the beginning of Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month by handing out AFA-branded Deep River Snacks' Mesquite BBQ chips in New York City.
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| Enroll in Free Webinars on Dementia | |
AFA and Senior Helpers are sponsoring a Webinar series this fall for family caregivers and healthcare professionals on "Moving Forward with Alzheimer's and Dementia" with Teepa Snow, a renowned dementia care expert. The series is presented by the American Society on Aging and offers one CEU for healthcare professionals.
"Understanding the Different Forms of Dementia."
Monday, November 21, 2011
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (ET)
To register, click here, https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/490043742.
"Dementia and Caregiving: Focusing on the Person While Understanding the Progression"
Monday, December 19, 2011
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (ET)
To register, click here, https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/440140022.
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GET INVOLVED!
Take Part in AFA's November Events!
National Commemorative Candle Lighting 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Host a local ceremony and light "candles of care" to remember and honor those affected by this illness, and to educate the public.
Please sign up at www.candlelighting.org
National Memory Screening Day 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Offer free, confidential memory screenings and distribute educational materials about memory concerns, successful aging and resources.
Please sign up at www.nationalmemoryscreening.org
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AFA recently announced the formation of a Legacy Society, which offers special recognition to individuals who have included AFA in their wills or estate plans. Information about AFA's new Legacy Society is available at
www.alzfdn.org or by contacting AFA at 866.232.8484
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| Want to support AFA on a regular basis? Donors can now make recurring monthly donations to AFA. A recurring monthly donation is a charge that is automatically deducted from your credit card each month. You may cancel at any time. To make convenient, automatic monthly donations, or a one-time donation, click here. |
| Our Mission |
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Our mission is "to provide optimal care and services to individuals confronting dementia, and to their caregivers and families--through member organizations dedicated to improving quality of life."
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| Contact Us |
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To obtain more information about AFA, visit us at www.alzfdn.org or call us toll-free at 866-AFA-8484. |
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