Latest news with #Alzheimer'sImpactMovement
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Advocates help raise awareness in Harrison County for Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — June is Alzheimer's and brain awareness month, and here in West Virginia, more than 38,000 people aged 65 and older have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or some sort of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Impact Movement. And as the age of people diagnosed is decreasing, general concern is increasing. Advocates of the cause are helping raise awareness of Alzheimer's and brain health by speaking with local city councils. These advocates were granted a proclamation on behalf of the Harrison County Commission in its meeting on Wednesday, the Clarksburg City Council on Thursday, and will receive one from the Bridgeport City Council on Friday. 12 News spoke with Bill O'Field, Mission Chairman of the North Central Walk to End Alzheimer's, who spoke with doctors from the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute on what some of the key signs of dementia and Alzheimer's may look like. Harrison County commissioners split on future of Sunset Ellis property 'It's normal in the aging process to maybe forget a name or forget where you put your car keys, but then you find them. And maybe later in the day, the seniors say, 'but then I remember that name when I get home. The doctor said that's good.' That's just the normal aging process taking place. But it's when you can't cook for yourself, you don't know how to do your laundry, those are the true signs of Alzheimer's,' said O'Field. O'Field also mentioned to be wary of weight loss and depression, and to maintain a healthy diet and exercise, as a healthy body can help result in a healthy mind. The Harrison County Senior Center offers an Alzheimer's support group in its boardroom at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month. You can call 304-623-6795 for more information. The North Central Walk to End Alzheimer's will also be held on Oct. 5 this year at the Meadowbrook Mall with registration beginning at 1 p.m. and the ceremony beginning at 2 p.m. For more information about Alzheimer's and local resources, you can call 800-272-3900 or click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Alzheimer's Albuquerque conference will provide info, resources
A senior woman being assisted to walk using a walker by caregiver at park. (Stock photo by Thianchai Sitthikongsak via Getty Images) More than 45,000 people live with Alzheimer's disease in New Mexico, according to the Alzheimer's Impact Movement, and over 65,000 New Mexicans serve as unpaid caregivers. In an effort to connect people with research, available services and strategies, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America is hosting free educational conferences in various states each month, including a stop in Albuquerque on March 12. Alzheimer's & Caregiving Educational Conference 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12 Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown Hotel, 2600 Louisiana Blvd. NE, Albuquerque Register online at The free conference is open to everyone and will include sessions for people diagnosed with a dementia-related illness, caregivers and family addressing topics on safeguarding the home, strategies for handling aggressive behavior in people with dementia, tips on healthy aging and legal planning. New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department's Deputy Cabinet Secretary Antoinette Vigil will be on hand to answer questions about state services available to New Mexicans, such as community-based services, home health care and long-term care facilities. And Dr. Gary Rosenberg, a professor of neurology at the University of New Mexico, will host a session giving an overview of dementia-related illnesses, the common symptoms and warning signs people can look for, risk factors and the different diagnostic approaches. Serving seniors 'Alzheimer's disease affects thousands of New Mexico families, and events like this are critical for raising awareness about the condition and connecting caregivers with vital resources. The Aging and Long-Term Services Department is committed to ensuring that every New Mexican impacted by Alzheimer's—whether they are living with the disease or caring for a loved one—has access to the services and support they need,' Vigil said in a statement. Free memory screenings will also be offered to attendees during the event. And if people are not able to attend the conference in Albuquerque, they can still connect with services and ask questions at their local senior centers. Promoting awareness of Alzheimer's and related diseases, and the services available in the state is part of a larger goal of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department, according to the 2022-2025 New Mexico State Plan For Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, as is supporting family caregivers and bolstering the state's caregiver workforce. Several bills in the current legislative session address issues related to seniors, caregivers and disabled residents, including: House Bill 131, which proposes stricter background checks for caregivers in response to an increase in severe cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation of disabled and older facility residents. The bill, which is supported by the Health Care Authority, is scheduled to be heard by the House Judiciary Committee this week. House Bill 149, which the Aging and Long-Term Services Department supports, proposes enacting the Supported Decision-Making Act. The act would allow people with disabilities and older people to retain their autonomy to make decisions, but with the assistance of a trusted person or team. Supported decision-making is an alternative to conservatorship. HB149 has cleared the House and is waiting to be scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
