Alzheimer's Foundation of America
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Awareness-Raising Activities Dominated November
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Tony Lucca performs at AFA's Together for Care event.
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As National Alzheimer's Awareness Month draws to a close, it is evident that Alzheimer's disease has received much-needed attention around the United States--in local communities, Congress and the media.
Much of the month focused on the importance of early detection:
- More than 7,100 local sites nationwide--a record--participated in the Alzheimer's Foundation of America's (AFA) National Memory Screening Day on November 19 or another day during the month. Sites offered free, confidential memory screenings and educational materials.
- The co-chairs of the bi-partisan House Alzheimer's Caucus, Representatives Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.), issued a resolution recognizing AFA's screening initiative and encouraging the public to participate.
Also this month, AFA honored Bert E. Brodsky, its founding and current board chairman, along with caregivers everywhere at a reception and concert in New York. "Together for Care: Profiles in Caregiving" featured performances by musicians Tony Lucca and Jesse Ruben.
In addition, AFA's National Commemorative Candle Lighting Weekend of Prayer was observed by nearly 100 sites from coast to coast from November 15-17.
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Task Force Releases Draft Recommendations on Memory Screening
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine, recently released a draft rating recommendation on screening for cognitive impairment in older adults.
Unlike its last review on cognitive screening in 2003, the USPSTF now concluded that there is adequate evidence that some screening tools can accurately identify dementia. However, it noted that empirical evidence of need for such screenings is "lacking" and that the "balance of benefits and harms cannot be determined."
The task force is accepting public comments on these recommendations until December 2, at 5 p.m. EST. AFA urges stakeholders to weigh in in support of memory screening and its benefits to both those who may have Alzheimer's disease and their family caregivers.
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New Report Shows Effects of Sequestration on Alzheimer's Disease Programs
A new report from NDD United, a coalition designed to save nondefense discretionary programs from more devastating cuts, sheds light on how sequestration-related cuts affect programs for individuals with Alzheimer's disease (see Page 102 of PDF).
Thus far, cuts to Older Americans Act programs have resulted in losses including: access to health care, socialization and nutrition services provided to some 750,000 individuals in adult day programs; and personal care services, such as in-home assistance with bathing, toileting and dressing, to 1.5 million individuals.
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Deadlines Approaching: Respite Care Grants and Teens Video Competition
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"The Chosen and The Changed" Grand Prize Winner of
2012 AFA Teens Video Contest
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December 1 marks the application deadline for two AFA award programs:
Phyllis and Milton Berg Family Respite Care Grants -
AFA's nonprofit member organizations may apply for the fall cycle of AFA's Phyllis and Milton Berg Family Respite Care Grants. These grants provide organizations with funding for scholarships to families with financial need, for adult day programs, in-home aides and other respite services. For more information, call 866-232-8484.
AFA Teens for Alzheimer's Awareness Video Competition - For the third straight year, AFA is calling on teens, ages 13 to 19, to create a two-minute video that illustrates a moment in which they learned something about their understanding of Alzheimer's disease or about caregiving, or decided to become a community volunteer/activist. The grand prize winner will win $500, and the runner-up will receive $250.
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News to Use
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Reach Out for Care - Thanksgiving and the holiday season can bring a lot of joy, but they are also times that relatives tend to notice changes in loved ones. You don't have to go it alone. Reach out to one of AFA's licensed social workers at info@alzfdn.org or by calling 866-232-8484.
- Free Conference/Webinar - AFA and the National Alliance for Caregiving will hold a free conference/webinar on December 3 on how to implement the caregiver provisions in the "National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease" at the state and local levels. Participants can attend in person in Washington or watch via a webcast, from 1 to 4 p.m. EST. Click here to register.
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'Speak Up: What You Should Know About Memory Problems and Dementia' - The Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies more than 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, recently produced a brochure designed to provide facts about forgetfulness and to encourage people to "Speak Up" about memory concerns. It was written in collaboration with eight national private and public organizations, including AFA.
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News Update
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Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Do Not Increase Risk of Dementia - After reviewing numerous published studies, authors of a new journal article refute previous thinking that taking statins--drugs used to lower cholesterol--elevates someone's risk for memory loss or dementia. Rather, the authors found that people taking statins actually reduced their risk for dementia by 13 percent; for Alzheimer's disease, by 21 percent; and for other mental problems, 35 percent. Read more...
- Concussion Injuries Linger Beyond Symptoms - New research shows that injuries from concussions last beyond the physical symptoms of the concussion itself. In screening 50 people who had sustained a mild concussion within the past two weeks, and 50 who had not, those who had concussions reported more issues with memory and thinking skills, headaches, dizziness and symptoms of depression and anxiety; and had more evidence of abnormalities in the gray matter of the frontal cortex region of both sides of the brain. Four months later, participants experienced a 27 percent reduction in physical symptoms; however, brain scans showed that there were still gray matter abnormalities. Read more...
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, AFA extends a heartfelt thank you to our clients, members, advisors, and all families affected by dementia.
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November 21, 2013
Volume 6 Issue 23
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 Care Connection
December 12, 1 p.m. EST
AFA's next Care Connection teleconference will feature Kelly O'Shea Carney, Ph.D., CMC, and executive director, Phoebe Center for Excellence in Dementia Care, in Allentown, Pa. Dr. Carney will share strategies for managing challenging behaviors. The teleconference is free. To join, call 877-594-8353 and use guest identification number: 46692951#.  Arts & Minds, New York A New York University student recently turned the lens on Arts & Minds, a New York nonprofit organization that engages individuals with dementia and their caregivers in artwork at the Studio Museum in Harlem. The video captures the essence of the organization as it follows the participation of a couple, who have been married 47 years, and the impact the program has had on their quality of life. 
Wanaque Reserve
Singles Club
Wanaque, N.J.
Wanaque Reserve is a 55 "and better" community in Wanaque, N.J. Recently, the community's singles group held a card party, including a raffle, which raised $1,200 for AFA.
Lynn Alper, president of the Wanaque Reserve Singles Group, said the group chose AFA as the beneficiary because of its charity rating and commitment to serving the aging population.
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The Legacy SocietyAFA'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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