Audience members raise their hands in response to a question during an educational conference put on by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The nonprofit will host a free conference on July 19 in Indianapolis featuring experts discussing estate planning for those with dementia, caregiving and how the brain works.
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More and more, no one can say they’re untouched by the damage and destruction Alzheimer’s disease creates.
An estimated 6.7 million age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia currently in the United States. The disease has not only ravaged those people’s lives, but inflicted a heavy weight on partners, family members, caregivers and friends.
People need guidance to best face the pervasive way the disease takes over lives.
“Once Alzheimer’s disease walks into a family’s front door, obviously for the person with the disease, life is never the same. But the same is true for the people around them,” said Charles Fuschillo, Jr., president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
To help local residents navigate the painful and degenerative disease, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is offering a free education conference on July 19. Participants can learn about the biology of the brain and how Alzheimer’s disease impacts it.
Workshops will focus on legal planning for people with dementia, as well as hear from caregivers about the ways to best take care of loved ones without damaging your own physical and mental health. Memory screenings will be offered to look for warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
“The disease is so prevalent; in the state of Indiana, there are more than 110,000 people living with this disease,” Fuschillo said. “As prevalent as it is, and it being better diagnosed, it’s still critically important that individuals are empowered with information and knowledge.”
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is a national nonprofit aimed at providing support services and education to individuals, families and caregivers impacted by the disease. People can call its national helpline, staffed by licensed social workers to guide people through issues related to Alzheimer’s disease.
Through its National Memory Screening Program, people can get free, confidential screenings to search for warning signs of the disease. The AFA Partners in Care training helps prepare medical professionals to care for individuals with dementia.
Some of its most visible work are the free educational conferences held around the country, Fuschillo said.
The conference program started in 2015, and so far this year, similar events have been held in Arizona, Georgia, California, Colorado and Washington. The Indianapolis-area event brings the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s reach into central Indiana.
“Every month we go to a different state to educate individuals about Alzheimer’s disease, brain health and wellness and the services that are important for the individuals and caregivers living with this disease,” Fuschillo said.
During the conference, special breakout sessions focus on different issues related to Alzheimer’s disease.
A workshop called “Legal Planning for Persons with Dementia” gives family and caregivers a professional perspective on helping loved ones not only plan for their estates after death, but how to ensure their health, legal and financial wishes are carried out when they’re still alive.
“It’s an issue that no one wants to deal with, but it’s critically important to deal with,” Fuschillo said
The session will be led by Robert W. Fechtman, an elder law attorney and founder of Fechtman Law Offices in Indianapolis. He is a frequent writer and speaker on a variety of estate planning, disability and elder law topics, as well as being a board member of the National Elder Law Foundation and a member and two-time past president of the Indiana Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
To focus on the biology of the brain and how Alzheimer’s disease attacks it, Dr. Malaz Boustani will present a program called “The Beauty of the Brain.” Boustani, a Richard M. Fairbanks Professor of Aging Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine, can offer ways to protect brain health and optimize brain care with evidence-based recommendations, as well as discuss research related to brain health and brain care.
“He’ll talk about Alzheimer’s research, tips and strategies, and what’s going on with all of the trials — basically giving individuals an understanding of the disease,” Fuschillo said.
One of the most moving programs comes directly from the people who provide care to those with Alzheimer’s disease. “Five Ways to Master Caregiving Without Breaking a Sweat” features advice from Angelica Baginske, a registered nurse and director of Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana.
Baginske plans to use her time to recommend strategies that caregivers can use to provide the best and most compassionate care to loved ones without damaging their own health. Her emphasis will be on becoming equipped with knowledge and resources, being an advocate, communicating your needs, and celebrating every moment with your loved one.
“Caregiving is an enormous challenge,” Fuschillo said. “It’s going to talk about caregiving tips and strategies, but also emphasize that caregivers need to take care of themselves as well. That’s forgotten, and we want to make sure caregivers get the priority they deserve.”
IF YOU GO
Alzheimer’s Educational Conference
What: A free conference open to everyone featuring experts in the field of Alzheimer’s disease, brain health and caregiving. In addition to workshops and seminars, free, confidential memory screenings will also be offered.
When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. July 19
Where: Indiana Bioscience Research Institute, 1210 Waterway Blvd., Indianapolis
How to register: alzfdn.org/tour. Advanced registration is highly recommended as registration closes at noon July 17.
