Get Ready for AFA's 2016 Concepts in Care Educational Conferences
Dates Scheduled for Nashville, New York and Washington, D.C.
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 In 2016, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America will bring its Concepts in Care educational conference to four cities to help family and professional caregivers learn new strategies to help them better navigate their caregiving roles. This year, AFA's Concepts in Care will visit Northport, N.Y. (April 5); Nashville, Tenn. (May 5); New York City (May 13); and Washington, D.C. (September 29).
Panels and experts will cover topics including palliative care; sex, intimacy and dementia and the changing paradigm of clinical trials. There will also be an exhibit hall and free, confidential memory screenings.
For more information regarding attendance, exhibiting or sponsorships, please contact Josie DiChiara, AFA's senior vice president, external relations, at 866-232-8484 x112 or by e-mail.
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Washington Update:
Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Holds First Meeting of 2016
In conjunction with this meeting, the Veterans' Administration (VA) released a report, "Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Innovative Dementia Models of Care: Patient-Centered Alternatives to Institutional Extended Care." The report describes a number of innovative person-centered dementia care programs developed and implemented at VA Medical Centers, and provided some initial results and lessons learned from these projects, including:
- Caregiver support is an essential component to successful program.
- Inclusion of other family members in education about dementia can help support the primary caregiver.
- In-home support services may include a safety assessment to determine the need for and the proper use of safe home technology.
- Maintaining functional mobility is important.
- Communication should include regular interaction with the primary care teams.
- Education of staff and caregivers is a necessary component of dementia programs.
- Rural care needs to be considered.
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New Telephone-Based Support Group for Long-Distance Caregivers
Now, more than ever, many caregivers are doing their job from afar. AFA understands that long-distance caregiving can be challenging and stressful. On March 2, AFA will kick off a new telephone-based support group specifically for long-distance caregivers. The five-week group will meet on Wednesdays, from 3-4 p.m. EST and will provide a forum for caregivers to express their feelings, get support from peers, and learn strategies that can help make their caregiving role a bit easier. The group will be facilitated by one of AFA's licensed social workers. Space is limited and registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Heather Saposnick at 866-232-8484 x107 or by e-mail.
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News to Use:
Join Us: Professional Training at AFA's New York Headquarters
AFA is offering several in-person trainings at its New York headquarters, from now through May. Gleaned from its innovative training DVD, "AFA's Partners in Care: Supporting Individuals Living With Dementia," these in-person workshops can help professionals of all levels to further excel in the field of dementia care. Join us February 22 and 29; March 18 and 30; April 11 and 26; and May 9 and 23, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at AFA's headquarters in New York City. The cost to attend is $95, and lunch will be provided. In addition, six continuing education contact hours are available for licensed social workers who complete the training and pass the associated exam. Click here for more information or to register.
Attend Memory Care Forum, Austin, Texas
On February 25 and 26, the Institute for the Advancement of Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine will host Memory Care Forum, in Austin, Texas. Designed for healthcare professionals of all levels, the conference will tackle topics such as staffing for dementia care, dementia care without drugs, and financing memory care delivery. AFA is sponsoring the event, which will include a presentation from J.Wesson Ashford, M.D., Ph.D., clinical professor (affiliated) at the Stanford/VA Aging Clinical Research Center, and chairman of AFA's Memory Screening Advisory Board. Additional forums will be held in Philadelphia, Pa. (May 22-24) and La Jolla, Calif. (Sept.22-23). Click here for more information.
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News Update:
Study Suggests Possible Link Between Traumatic Brain Injury and Alzheimer's Disease
A study released this week in the journal, Neurology, suggests that people with traumatic brain injury may have a build-up of amyloid plaques in their brains. The study examined nine middle-aged people who had a single moderate to severe TBI 11 months to 17 years before the start of the study. Study participants were given PET and MRI brain scans and were then compared to 10 people with Alzheimer's disease and nine healthy participants. Both the people with brain injuries and the people with Alzheimer's disease had plaques in the posterior cingulate cortex, which is affected early in Alzheimer's, but only those with brain injuries had plaques in the cerebellum. Read more.
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We're Here to Help!
Call AFA's National Toll-Free Helpline:
866-232-8484
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Member Spotlight
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Rendezvous Senior Day Service, Inc.
Ketchikan, Alaska
Rendezvous Senior Day Service, Inc. provides social engagement and support to older adults and people with disabilities. The group, which recently was awarded an AFA Family Respite Care grant, and purchased the AFA Partners in Care training DVD, recently added a unique activity to its roster.
Each week, two local grocery stores donate produce and other food items to Rendezvous. Looking for a way to use-and not waste-any of these donated items, executive director Licha Kelly-King hatched an idea. Together with her team, she began making homemade jellies, apple butter and applesauce, trail mix, and more with the program attendees. The group has its own recipes, makes its own labels and sells its "Old Hands New Ideas"-branded products at local craft and art fairs to raise money for its programs and services. And the products are a hit! At its first craft fair, Rendezvous made enough money to purchase two commercial-grade dehydrators. "You see a shift in how the participants are thinking," said Kelly-King about how engaged her clients are during the process. "They are completely with us." Rendezvous has even become a tour destination for visiting cruise ships. Click here for more information.
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| | Rendezvous Senior Day Service attendees ready bananas for the dehydrator. |
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Fundraiser Spotlight
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Rain Patton
Tribal Gauges
On February 12, Rain Patton, founder of Tribal Gauges, an organic design company will present a night of organic interactive fashion and entertainment during New York Fashion Week. The event, which will be held at Union Square Ballroom, will feature organic clothing and jewelry, live music and dancers and hors d'oeuvres. A portion of the proceeds will benefit AFA.
Inspired by her own heritage, Patton began carving gemstones and other organic materials, such as seashells, while studying in London. She founded Tribal Gauges as a way to connect people with their heritage through a tradition-gauge piercing-that has existed for generations.
Asked why she chose AFA, Patton said, "It is important to give back while we are young. Instead of ignoring our elders, we need to get to know them, to understand. If our elders forget, we lose the most profound blessing on earth, the stories; the stories of who are, our families, and we as a people. Alzheimer's Disease is non-discriminating. It robes all ... of Mother Earth." Click here to purchase tickets or to learn more.
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Bid To Support AFA
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With everyone's mind on "the big game," this week, AFA is pleased to announce some football-themed experiences up for auction at CharityBuzz.com to benefit AFA.
Bid on an opportunity to attend a Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice, meet general manager Jason Licht, and attend a game with sideline passes. Or, test your swing in a round of golf with legend Ronde Barber.
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