BRATTLEBORO — Brattleboro Memorial Hospital hosts “Conversations about Dementia,” which aims to foster discussion and share resources on some challenging and often uncomfortable topics.
The event is free and open to all, and runs April 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. in BMH's Brew Barry Conference Center.
Presented by Maggie Lewis, MPA, LNHA, director of programs and services for the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, this program will clarify signs and resources, and will outline what steps can be taken.
“Many in our community confront issues with Alzheimer's and related dementias,” says Lewis. “Often, we are unsure of seeing the signs of dementia and what steps need to be taken to plan for its occurrence.”
Program participants will learn and share tips for having difficult conversations that arise when someone shows signs of Alzheimer's or dementia. They will receive help in planning and building a care team that works and communicates well, and will hear from people who are dealing with similar issues.
According to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org), more than five million Americans live with the disease, and as many as 16 million will have it in 2050. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias is estimated at $214 billion in 2014. Nearly one in every three seniors who dies each year has Alzheimer's or another dementia.