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Alzheimer's Foundation of America

November Is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month 

 

Throughout the month of November--National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month--the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) is hosting events to drive awareness and educate people about the disease.   

 

On November 14, AFA will celebrate caregivers everywhere with its "Together for Care: Profiles in Caregiving" reception and concert

at Guastavino's in New York. The event honors Bert E. Brodsky, AFA's founding chairman, whose mother had Alzheimer's disease. Tony Lucca, a finalist from the second season of "The Voice," and Jesse Ruben, both of whom have experienced Alzheimer's disease in their families, will perform. For tickets and information, call 866-232-8484 or email.   

 

Then, on November 15-17, organizations and individuals are invited to light "candles of care" virtually or at ceremonies during AFA's annual National Commemorative Candle Lighting.    

 

Now in its 11th year, National Memory Screening Day (NMSD) will involve more than 6,700 sites across the country--nearly triple the number of venues from any previous year. Healthcare professionals will offer free, confidential memory screenings on NMSD itself on November 19, and other days during the month. Rite Aid, the latest chain to participate in NMSD, will have its pharmacists conduct screenings in all stores on November 6, as part of its wellness65+ initiative. Click here to find a site or to register as a screening site.

Older Americans Act Set to Be Reauthorized

 

The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) is scheduled to mark up the "Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act of 2013" (S.1562) on October 30. This legislation would reauthorize for five years federal programs that provide funding for nutrition and supportive home and community-based services, disease prevention/health promotion services, elder rights programs, and the National Family Caregiver Support Program.

 

To contact the HELP Committee to urge OAA reauthorization, click here
AFA Awards Bi-Annual Grants to Local Groups

AFA this month awarded grants, totaling $85,000, to 17 of its nonprofit member organizations in 11 states.

 

These grants will support a variety of initiatives, including art, music and poetry therapies, caregiver education, support groups and adult day programs.

 

"We are pleased to award grants to these organizations so they may build upon their efforts to provide meaningful programs that help improve the lives of people affected by dementia," said Bert E. Brodsky, AFA's chairman.

News to Use
  • Affordable Care Act Website Improvements - To implement the Affordable Care Act, the U.S. government recently introduced the website www.healthcare.gov. Open enrollment in the plan began earlier this month, and coverage takes effect in January. The website has received a lot of attention for multiple glitches; however, government officials said that improvements are ongoing, including a tool for previewing plans and prices, a cost calculator, and additional ways to apply.

  • Young-Onset Spousal Support Group - On November 4, AFA will kick off a telephone-based support group for spouses of individuals with young-onset Alzheimer's disease. The group will run for six weeks, from 3-4 p.m. EST and pre-registration is required. For more information, call 866-232-8484 or email. 

News Updates
  • Sleep Problems Linked to Alzheimer's Disease - A new study suggests a possible link between poor sleep and the beta-amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers, examining brain imaging scans, found greater accumulations of these plaques in the brains of 70 older adults who had slept five hours or less, or reported poor quality sleep. Read more...   

  • Screening for Cognitive Impairment - A study published in the "Annals of Internal Medicine" reveals that screening for cognitive impairment can adequately detect dementia; however, it notes that it is still unclear whether interventions for early-diagnosed individuals or their caregivers have a clinically significant effect. Read more...  

  • Finding Alzheimer's Disease Before Symptoms Start -

    Research from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine indicates that measuring levels of certain proteins in cerebrospinal fluid can foretell when people may develop the cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease long before symptoms appear. Read more... 
  • Challenging the Brain May Help Boost Memory - Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas recently found that learning mentally challenging skills--such as quilting and digital photography--may boost memory in older adults. Read more... 

    
October 24, 2013
Volume 6 Issue 21
  

Pura Vida Bracelets

La Jolla, Calif.

 

Pura Vida, a La Jolla, Calif. company started three years ago by two friends, sells bracelets handcrafted by artisans in Costa Rica. The founders, Griffin Thall and Paul Goodman, discovered the bracelets while on a surfing trip and brought them to the States as a way to help support the artisans.

 

Now, Pura Vida is also supporting AFA. It will donate one dollar from the purchase of each of its "Alzheimer's Awareness" bracelets to AFA.

 
  
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The Legacy Society
AFA's Legacy Society offers special recognition to individuals who have included AFA in their wills or estate plans.
 
Support AFA Monthly
Donors can now make recurring monthly donations to AFA, which will be automatically deducted from your credit card each month. You may cancel at any time.  

 

 

 

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Alzheimer's Foundation of America
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. 
 Visit us at www.alzfdn.org or call us toll-free at 866-232-8484.

If you have a question or concern that you would like to discuss with a social worker, write [email protected] or call (toll-free) 866-232-8484.