(above) North Plainfield Seniors and Councilwoman Keiona Miller at a North Plainfield Senior’s Weekly Meeting
A Closer Look at Alzheimer’s Disease
A Health & Wellness Initiative for North Plainfield Senior Residents
This summer Councilwoman Keiona Miller partnered with the Act Now Foundation and the North Plainfield Senior’s Group and presented a free seminar on Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia for North Plainfield Senior Residents.
This free seminar was held to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s disease and related challenges that it raises. Dora Vadney, Program Coordinator for the North Plainfield Seniors, said “The seminar was very interesting. A lot of helpful information was given, and I am excited that Councilwoman Miller will be doing a second seminar this fall.”
According to the CDC:
“Alzheimer’s and dementia is a public health epidemic with a large and rapidly growing burden that bears significant impact on the nation. The impact of Alzheimer’s disease is felt at a national, state, and local level – as well as on a family and personal level – through financial burdens, resource needs, and professional requirements.”
Facts:
Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging.
5.7 million Americans were estimated to be living with Alzheimer’s disease in 2018.
Symptoms usually begin after age 60, but Alzheimer’s disease likely starts a decade or more before problems first appear.
Risk factors include aging, diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), smoking cigarettes, and a family history of dementia.
More than 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.
Currently, there is no cure. There are pharmaceutical options for managing symptoms and care planning.
Alzheimer’s death rates increased 55% and the number of Alzheimer’s deaths at home increased from 14% to 25% while deaths in institutional settings decreased, from 1999 to 2014.
Councilwoman Miller presented a second seminar this fall during a regularly scheduled North Plainfield Senior’s meeting at the North Plainfield Community Center, 614 Greenbrook Road in North Plainfield.
