There is still time to participate in National Memory Screening Day. By
hosting a screening event at your senior living community on November
15th you can help support early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s
disease.
Senior living communities across the country will once again open their doors to both residents and the surrounding community to provide free, confidential memory screenings on November 15. About 2,500 sites across the country have already pledged their participation in the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) 9th annual National Memory Screening Day (NMSD). And more than 30 professional organizations are supporting the event, including the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA).
Coinciding with National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month in November, NMSD is aimed at promoting early detection of memory problems and appropriate intervention. On NMSD, screening sites nationwide include senior living residences, as well as senior centers, Alzheimer’s agencies, pharmacies, libraries, and other community venues. Last year, the long-term care sector had the second greatest number of participating sites, behind pharmacies.
Eric J. Hall, AFA’s president and CEO, said there is still time for senior living communities to sign up as screening sites on NMSD or other times of the year. AFA provides a free toolkit of materials to seamlessly carry out the event, and organizations can add their own touches, such as also offering educational workshops or brain exercise activities. “We must remove barriers to early detection,” Hall said. “Participation in this event shows enormous goodwill by serving the community, and it helps people begin that all-important conversation about memory concerns.”
Qualified healthcare professionals, such as nurses and social workers, administer the face-to-face screenings, which consist of a series of questions and tasks. The results do not represent a diagnosis, and screeners encourage those with abnormal scores as well as those who still have concerns to pursue a full medical exam. Early identification of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia allows affected individuals and their family members to benefit from available treatments that may help slow progression of symptoms, as well as access social services support and make plans for long-term care.
For information about National Memory Screening Day, including how to sign up as a site, visit the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America National Memory Screening website or call 866-AFA-8484.
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