New Jersey Residents Invited to Free Alzheimer’s Educational Conference on August 16 Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Educational Conference for New Jersey residents on Wednesday, August 16 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm ET at the HOPE Tower – Jersey Shore University Medical Center (19 Davis Avenue, 10th Floor, Neptune) as part of its 2023 national Educating America Tour. The free conference is open to everyone and will allow participants to learn from experts in the field of Alzheimer’s disease, brain health, and caregiving. To register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour. Advanced registration is highly recommended as registration closes on Monday, August 14 at 12 pm ET.
“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 about brain health, we invite you to join us on August 16.”
Sessions during the AFA conference will include:
Brain Health Awareness, It’s Never Too Early– Brain health is something everyone can, and should, be proactive about. Lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise, proper sleep, and learning new things can all help maintain and improve our cognition. Manisha Parulekar, MD, FACP, AGSF, CMD, will offer preventative strategies for brain health. She will discuss the importance of early diagnosis of dementia, various diagnostic tools for Alzheimer’s disease, and provide an update on the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Parulekar is Director of the Division of Geriatrics at Hackensack University Medical Center and Co-Director of the Center for Memory Loss and Brain Health at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. She is board-certified in geriatrics and internal medicine.
The Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease on Language, Cognitive and Swallowing Function– Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that impacts memory, thinking and language skills, and the ability to carry out simple tasks. Josi Shimkus, MA-CCC-SLP, will discuss some of the more common deficits caused by Alzheimer’s disease, including changes in language, cognition, and swallowing. She will also discuss current research on best practices and treatments, along with the importance of family education and training.
Ms. Shimkus is an Inpatient Rehabilitation Manager and Speech Pathology Supervisor in the Department of Rehabilitation at Hackensack Meridian Health and has over 30 years of experience in speech pathology.
How to Age in Place Safely– Most individuals prefer to remain at home for as long as possible as they age, where they are most comfortable in their surroundings. Balancing this desire with that person’s care and safety needs is something many family caregivers face. Linda Chinman Pollock, CAPS, CLIPP, will demonstrate ways for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and those living with dementia to age in place safely. She will also discuss the implementation of smart technology in the home and its benefits.
Ms. Pollock is the owner of Setting the Stage, LLC and North Jersey Home Maintenance Group. She is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist and a Certified Living in Place Professional.
Free, confidential memory screenings will be conducted throughout the day.
For more information or to register for the August 16 conference, visit www.alzfdn.org/tour. Those who cannot participate in the 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, sending a text message to 646-586-5283, 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 and text message features can serve individuals 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 holds Charity Navigator’s top 4-star rating.
