New York— The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free virtual Alzheimer’s educational conference for Maryland residents on Thursday, November 18, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST as part of its 2021 national Educating America Tour. The conference, which is free and open to everyone, will allow participants to learn from, and ask questions of, health, caregiving and long-term care 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.”
Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of The Dr. Oz Show, will be a guest speaker and share his family’s personal Alzheimer’s story regarding the diagnosis of his mother, Suna Oz. Dr. Oz will describe how the diagnosis impacted his family, as well as share tips to promote good brain health and healthy aging.
Sessions during the AFA virtual conference will include:
- Legal Issues for the Alzheimer’s Patient— Having the necessary legal documents in place is extremely vital when a family is confronted with a dementia diagnosis. Morris Klein, Esq., will talk about legal issues faced by many people who are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including Medicaid eligibility, special needs planning for the disabled, guardianships, and drafting essential documents such as powers of attorney, health care advance directives, trusts and wills. He will also discuss estate planning, probate and the administration of trusts and estates. Morris Klein is a Certified Elder Law Attorney who is a member of the Special Needs Alliance and Principal of Morris Klein Attorney At Law, based out of Bethesda.
- Putting Your Healthcare Team Together— Having a strong network is essential for caregivers to reduce stress, prevent burnout, and ultimately provide the best care possible. Mari L. Baxter, Chief Operating Officer of Senior Helpers Franchising, will provide an overview of their LIFE Profile program, which is a data-driven assessment tool that provides a holistic view of the risks and factors that influence a loved one’s ability to age in their own home. It is designed to improve overall quality of life, reduce hospitalization risk, and help individuals live more independently at home. Mari will also provide tips to help improve safety in the home. She will provide strategies for caregivers to expand their skills and knowledge of administering specialized care that is designed to meet the needs and requirements of seniors at various stages.
- Symptoms, Treatment & Research on Alzheimer’s — Dr. Paul S. Fishman, MD, PhD, Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of Maryland and Chief of Neurology with the VA Maryland Health Care System, will provide an overview of Alzheimer’s disease, explain the warning signs, and discuss ongoing Alzheimer’s research and clinical trials, including his recent involving the therapeutic use of focused ultrasound (FUS) in the brain.
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.