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November 2016

News from the Alzheimer's Foundation of America
November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month
Landmarks Turn Teal for Alzheimer's Awareness
On November 3, and subsequent days throughout the month, landmarks from coast to coast and around the globe will again light their facades teal in support of Alzheimer's Awareness Month. This year, nearly 200 landmarks will participate in the project, which is an initiative of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. Participating sites include: the Empire State Building, Los Angeles International Airport, MetLife Stadium, the fountains at Trafalgar Square in London, Sichuan Tower in China, the Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls, and many more. 

Visit AFA's website to view the full list of sites showing their support for the cause.




Kmart Pharmacy Joins AFA's National Memory Screening Month
All Locations to Offer Free Memory Screenings Throughout November

AFA is excited to announce that all Kmart Pharmacy locations nationwide will be participating in National Memory Screening Month, offering free, confidential screenings every day in November, during normal business hours. 

AFA's National Memory Screening program began in 2003, as a way to highlight the importance of early detection of memory problems and educate people on brain health and wellness. Screenings last between five and 10 minutes and consist of a series of questions and tasks, designed to gauge memory, thinking and language skills. A screening is not a diagnosis, but scoring below the normal threshold can signal that someone should follow up with a physician for a thorough evaluation. There are a number of reasons an individual may be experiencing memory issues, including vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems and depression.

By the end of this year, AFA's National Memory Screening Program will have screened 3 million individuals. Click here for more information or to locate a screening site. 


AFA and the National Alliance for Caregiving Team Up 
to  Talk Brain Health
November marks Alzheimer's Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. To help raise awareness of both, AFA and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) are again teaming up to help families speak candidly about brain health.
 
For the second year in a row, AFA and NAC will host #TalkBrainHealth-a combined social media campaign and downloadable tool kit to help people better address memory concerns in loved ones.
 
"The holiday season is often the time we notice changes in our older loved ones--especially those who live some distance away," said Charles J. Fuschillo, AFA's president and chief executive officer. "By providing tips on what to look for and how to start a conversation, we hope to take some of the stigma out of discussing brain health."

Download the free conversation kit here. There will also be a free webinar on December 9, at 3 p.m.
Washington Update:
Report Calls for Establishing National Plan for 
Family Caregivers
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (formerly the Institutes of Medicine) has released a report:  Families Caring for an Aging America , which provides an overview of the prevalence and nature of family caregiving of older adults as well as its personal impact on caregivers' health, economic security, and overall well-being.  Among the report's recommendations, is the creation of  a National Family Caregiver Strategy that includes:
  • Medicare and Medicaid payment reform to motivate providers to engage family caregivers effectively;
  • training of health care providers to engage caregivers; and
  • evaluation and adoption of federal policies that provide economic support to working caregivers.
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) is supporting legislation that would establish a national caregiver plan. S. 1979/H.R. 3099, the Recognize, Assist, Include, and Engage (RAISE) Act, introduced by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) along with Reps. Greg Harper (R-Miss.) and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), calls for creating an integrated national strategy to recognize and support family caregivers. Specifically, the bill creates an advisory board, modeled on the advisory board established under the National Alzheimer's Project Act, to advise and make recommendations to shape a national family caregiver strategy. 

AFA urges all Alzheimer's stakeholders to contact their members of Congress and urge them to support the RAISE Act. Don't know who to contact? Click here.
Join Us:
AFA Concepts in Care Educational Conference
West Palm Beach

On November 11, AFA is bringing its free, Concepts in Care educational conference to the West Palm Beach Hilton, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Speakers include renowned dementia researchers and caregiving experts, including: David Watson, M.D., founder of the Alzheimer's Research and Treatment Center, in Lake Worth, Fla., who will provide an update on clinical trials and research; Melanie Bunn, R.N., M.S., G.N.P., who will share effective communication techniques; Jeff Lukosavich, field director, Northwestern Mutual, and Tara Wood, esq., Capital Law Group, who will tackle the issue of how to pay for long-term care; Gene Saunders, Project Lifesaver International, who will discuss how to keep individuals with cognitive impairment safe from wandering; Dawn Epstein, executive director, Alzheimer's Care Resource Center in Lake Worth, Fla., and Marcia Teele, marketing director, Arden Courts, who will discuss transitioning a loved one from home to a care facility.
 
Click here for more information or to register.  
Wear the Ribbon
In honor of Alzheimer's Awareness Month, AFA is offering free teal ribbons. 

Order today to show your support. Contact Deanna Primus at 866-232-8484 or by e-mail.




New Support Group for Spouses
On November 3, AFA will introduce a new, telephone-based support group for spouses of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses. It is designed to connect caregiving spouses, providing them a chance to discuss the challenges and rewards of caregiving and provide support and guidance to help manage their own needs. 

The group will meet weekly on Thursdays, from 7-8 p.m. EST.  For more information or to register, call 866-232-8484.

Have a Question?
AFA's National Toll-Free Helpline is here for you! Staffed by licensed social workers, the helpline is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. EDT, and Saturdays, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. EDT.

Call 866-232-8484.