PHILADELPHIA PA – A Center City conference devoted to education about and caregiving for Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive illness that impairs thought and memory and can lead to dementia, will be held Nov. 15 (2023; Wednesday) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 237 Broad St.
The event, sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, is free and open to the public. Its doors will open at 9 a.m. for a continental breakfast and memory screenings. Advance registration is requested of those who plan to attend conference sessions in person.
The National Centers for Disease Control reports that, as of 2020, an estimated 5.8 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s. About 280,000 of them are Pennsylvania residents, according to the foundation. The disease “can seriously affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities,” the CDC noted.
Those unable to join the conference, or who have immediate questions about Alzheimer’s disease, can still obtain answers quickly. They can connect with licensed social workers seven days a week through the foundation’s national toll-free helpline at 866-232-8484, or by sending a text to 646-586-5283. Chatting also is available on the foundation website by clicking the chat icon at its right corner.
About the conference program
The foundation’s conference will allow participants to learn from experts in the field of Alzheimer’s disease, brain health, and caregiving. Its sessions are scheduled to include coverage of:
- Alzheimer’s disease therapies, through research focused on clinical trials for prevention and treatment of the disease, mild cognitive impairments, and other forms of dementia. Dr. David Weisman, director of clinical trials at Abington Neurological Associates, will talk about the benefits of early diagnosis, as well as therapies and clinical trials to develop disease-modifying drugs.
- The future of healthcare and supportive technology, which has dramatically increased over 10 years. Bryan J. Adler, Esq., a certified elder law attorney with the Rothkoff Law Group of Cherry Hill NJ, will explain how technology can track care, provide reminders, and analyze patient health status. That could lead to cost savings, and fewer hospitalizations or transitions to nursing homes.
- Learning that a loved one is diagnosed with a dementia-related illness can be overwhelming, and caregivers must deal with their emotions. Alison Lynn, MSW, LCSW, director of social work for the Penn Memory Center in Philadelphia, will teach participants to identify common manifestations of dementia caregiver grief, and offer strategies to accept and cope with these feelings.
Additionally, free and confidential memory screenings will be conducted throughout the day.
“Connecting families with useful, practical information and support that can help them now, and be better prepared for the future, is what this conference is all about,” foundation President and CEO Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. said. Knowledge “can help make any situation easier to navigate, especially something as challenging as caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease,” he added.
The foundation is a non-profit organization with a stated mission to provide support, services and education nationwide to individuals, families, and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. It also funds research for better treatment and a cure.
Photos of earlier conferences provided to Travels With The Post
by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
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