The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free virtual Alzheimer’s educational conference for Texas residents on Wednesday, March 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. CST as part of its 2022 national Educating America Tour. The conference, which is free and open to everyone, will allow participants to learn from, and ask questions of, health and caregiving experts. To register, go to <www.alzfdn.org/tour>.
“Knowledge is a useful and powerful tool that can help make any situation easier to navigate, especially something as challenging as caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President & CEO. “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. Whether Alzheimer’s is affecting your family, you are a caregiver or just want to learn more, you can participate in this free virtual conference from the comfort of your home or office.”
Sessions during the AFA virtual conference will include:
• Alzheimer’s Disease: In Search of a Cure - George Perry, Ph.D., will provide an overview of Alzheimer’s disease, an update on Alzheimer’s research and clinical trials, and what we can expect on the horizon. Dr. Perry is a Professor of Biology and the Semmes Foundation Distinguished University Chair in Neurobiology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is also a member of AFA’s Medical, Scientific and Memory Screening Advisory Board.
• Navigating Challenging Behaviors Associated with Dementia– Dr. Laura Novak, OTD, OTR, BCG, will teach caregivers how to identify the underlying causes of challenging behaviors associated with dementia. She will also guide them as to how to apply targeted strategies to their specific situations in order to address these care challenges. Dr. Novak is an Occupational Therapist specializing in gerontology. She is Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio).
• Healing Trauma in Caregivers of Persons with Advanced Dementia – Alzheimer’s disease not only affects those living with the disease but it impacts the caregivers as well. They often experience trauma and caregiver burnout. Catherine C. Stansbury, LMSW, EMDR, PAC, will discuss trauma therapy for caregivers and how it assists the brain’s natural healing process. Catherine is an EMDR Trained Therapist, PAC Certified Independent Consultant, Certified Practitioner of The Myers & Briggs Foundation, and a Social Worker and Therapist with Divine Mercy Counseling in Austin, TX.
There will also be a photo slideshow, presented by Carmen Davailus, a retired nurse practitioner; visual artist; and Founder/ President of Doggies for Dementia Foundation. She inspires people through photography and storytelling and captures family memories and raises awareness for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
For more information or to register, go to <www.alzfdn.org/ tour>. Those who cannot participate in the virtual conference or have immediate questions about Alzheimer’s disease can connect with licensed social workers seven days a week through AFA’s National Toll-Free Helpline by calling 866-232-8484 or web chatting at www.alzfdn.org by clicking the blue and white chat icon in the right-hand corner of the page. The web chat feature is available in more than 90 languages.
About Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA):
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias nationwide and to fund research for better treatment and a cure. Its services include a National Toll-Free Helpline (866-232- 8484) staffed by licensed social workers, the National Memory Screening Program, educational conferences and materials, and “AFA Partners in Care” dementia care training for healthcare professionals. For more information about AFA, call 866-232-8484, visit www.alzfdn.org, follow us on Twitter or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. AFA has earned Charity Navigator’s top 4-star rating for seven consecutive years.