Senior Helpers, along with Wellington Place of Hixson, is encouraging members of the community to be proactive by taking advantage of free, confidential memory screenings and information about successful aging on Nov. 13.
The event is part of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s (AFA) 10th annual National Memory Screening Day, held each November during National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. About 2,500 sites across the country will be participating.
Senior Helpers and Wellington Place of Hixson will provide the memory screenings at Wellington Place of Hixson, 4515 Hixson Pike, Hixson, Tn. 37343, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, call 423 710-1500.
Mike Guidry, owner of Senior Helpers of Chattanooga, said, “Senior Helpers has dedicated significant resources in an effort to change the way Alzheimer’s is impacting our communities. By partnering with Teepa Snow to provide the most profound training for professional and family caregivers, working with the AFA to support funding for research, detection and treatment, providing free-inservice education for hospital and facility employees, Senior Helpers is working diligently to make a difference.”
Qualified healthcare professionals administer the face-to-face screenings, which consist of questions and tasks, and take five to ten minutes. The results are not a diagnosis, and individuals with below-normal scores or who still have concerns are encouraged to pursue a full medical exam.
National Memory Screening Day’s 10th anniversary comes as the nation’s first National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, released in May by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, calls for a greater emphasis on early diagnosis and more education about the disorder.
Eric J. Hall, AFA’s president and CEO, is encouraging both the public and healthcare professionals to begin conversations about memory concerns.
“Memory screenings can help reverse the current state of under-diagnosis and mis-diagnosis of memory problems in our nation. We cannot afford to leave memory problems undetected when there are safe and inexpensive screening tools available,” said Mr. Hall, who sits on the public-private council advising on the national plan.
Screenings are appropriate for anyone concerned about memory changes, at risk of Alzheimer’s disease due to family history or who wants to check their memory now and for future comparison, according to AFA. Warning signs of dementia include forgetting people’s names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills, and confusion.
Some memory problems can be readily treated, such as those caused by vitamin deficiencies or thyroid problems. Other memory loss stems from causes that are not currently reversible, such as Alzheimer’s disease. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, proper diagnosis enables people to obtain available treatments that may help slow symptoms, tap support services, and plan for the future.
Currently, as many as 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and the incidence is rising with the swell of aging baby boomers. The prevalence doubles every five years beyond age 65.
Silver sponsors of the event are Accera, Inc., and Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
For more information about National Memory Screening Day and community memory screenings that organizations offer at other times of the year, visit www.nationalmemoryscreening.org or call 866 AFA-8484.