Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Celebrates 20 Years
Last month, Mark Heffner gave a talk on “Why a Will is Not Enough” as part of a virtual educational conference hosted by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA).
This year marks AFA’s 20th anniversary, and we thought this would be a good opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of the organization’s fantastic programs and resources.
The Teal Room
Created as a pandemic response, The Teal Room is a free library of virtual activity and therapeutic programming. Every day, at least one virtual program is offered and includes music, storytelling, yoga, art, exercise and much more.
National Memory Screening Program
AFA offers a free, confidential memory screening program. Screenings are performed by qualified health professionals and are taking place virtually three times a week.
AFA says that screenings are a “significant first step toward finding out if a person may have a memory problem. Memory problems could be caused by a number of medical conditions, including vitamin deficiencies, thyroid issues, and depression, as well as dementia-related illnesses including Alzheimer’s.”
Alzheimer’s Today
Alzheimer’s Today is a free magazine for caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s and related illnesses. One issue that caught our eye featured a cover story on “Creating a Dementia-Friendly Home,” which gives practical tips on how to use color, decor and light to create a safe and supportive home, as well as tech tools to make life easier for caregivers and their loved ones.
Telephone Support Groups
In addition to their 7-day-a-week toll-free helpline, AFA offers telephone support groups for caregivers (three times a week) as well as a support group for family members whose loved ones reside in a care setting (once a week). The groups are free and facilitated by licensed social workers.
Care Connection Webinars
In addition to providing health professionals with continuing education, AFA empowers caregivers with free monthly webinars. Recent topics include creating dementia-friendly holidays & celebrations, mindfulness, end-of-life care, and guardian and conservatorship FAQs.