AFA's Expands Hours for National Toll-Free Helpline
Assistance in English and Spanish Available Monday -Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. EDT
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 On July 6, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) will expand the hours of its national toll-free helpline. Licensed social workers will now field calls in English and Spanish, from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. EDT Monday-Friday.
"Our team of licensed social workers answers numerous calls, e-mails and chat requests each day," said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA's president and CEO. "But we understand that caregiving is much more than a 9-5 job and that caregivers often need help 'after hours.' By expanding our helpline times and offering service in Spanish, as well as English, we hope to serve an even greater number of people."
AFA's licensed social workers can be reached by phone at 866-232-8484, by live chat, by Skype at Alzheimers_Foundation or by e-mail.
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Washington Update
House and Senate Appropriations Committees Approve Historic Increase in Funding for Alzheimer's Disease Research
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 Both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees approved spending bills that include historic increases in funding for Alzheimer's disease research for fiscal year (FY) 2016. The House Appropriations bill calls for a $300 million increase specifically to be spent on Alzheimer's disease research. The Senate Appropriations Committee legislation provides for an additional $350 million to the National Institute on Aging, the lead federal institute that researches Alzheimer's disease. Total federal spending for Alzheimer's disease research is currently about $580 million a year, meaning that Congressional appropriators are looking to increase this amount by more than half.
AFA commends all Congressional appropriators including Sens. Cochran (R-Miss.) and Mikulski (D-Md.), chair and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee along with Reps. Rogers (R-Ky.) and Lowey (D-N.Y.), chair and ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, for their leadership in making this significant stride necessary to achieve the goal of finding a cure, or modifying treatment, for Alzheimer's disease by 2025. The budget debate, however, is far from over and the bills still need to be debated and passed by the full House and Senate.
AFA urges all stakeholders to contact members of their Congressional delegations and urge them to support these necessary and vital increases to Alzheimer's disease research funding in the FY'16 spending bill. You can contact your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-225-3121.
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AFA Members' Webinar: National Memory Screening Program
On July 15, AFA will host two webinars for its member organizations. Allisyn Vachon, AFA's national program manager, will offer an overview of AFA's National Memory Screening program and discuss how AFA members can register as screening sites, and reap the benefits of providing screenings in their communities. The webinars will be offered at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. EDT. To register, please contact AFA's membership coordinator, Cynthia Blayer, at 866-232-8484 or by e-mail.
Memory Screening Mondays at AFA
Beginning July 20, AFA will host free, confidential memory screenings at its New York City headquarters every other Monday, from 11 a.m.-noon EDT. Screenings will be administered by one of AFA's licensed social workers. Spanish language screenings will also be available. For more information, or to locate a screening site in your area, please contact Allisyn Vachon, AFA's national program manager, at 866-232-8484 or by e-mail.
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Cognitive Test Scores Could Signal Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Years Before Diagnosis
A recent study suggests that scoring low on memory and thinking tests could signal a risk of developing Alzheimer's disease years before diagnosis. The study followed more than 2,000 people of European-American and African-American descent, who had an average age of 73. The study took place over an 18-year period. Participants were required to take cognitive tests every three years. During the study, 23 percent of African-American participants and 17 percent of European-American participants developed Alzheimer's disease. Those who scored poorly on the first test had 10 times increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than those who scored well. Read more
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Member Spotlight
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National Coalition of Activity Professionals
The National Coalition of Activity
Professionals (NCOAP) was founded in 2010 as a state organization in North Carolina. Three years later, it expanded nationally.
The group's mission is to raise the standards of the activity profession, to assist individuals in achieving professional goals and national certification, to offer cost-effective and quality education opportunities. NCOAP also provides networking opportunities and peer support.
Irene Taylor, serves as volunteer executive director of NCOAP. She notes that membership is open to all activity professionals. For more information, please click here.
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Fundraiser Spotlight
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Ashleigh Lewis
New York, NY
Ashleigh Lewis, a recent graduate of Hudson High School of Learning in New York, recently hosted a 5K walk as part of her "big idea project," which" provides student innovators an opportunity to learn independence and gain in-depth knowledge of a particular topic during a 12-week period.
Although she has no personal connection to the disease, Lewis selected Alzheimer's and dementia as the focus of her project and raised $600 to date for AFA. 
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