The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will kick off its 2025 National Educating America Tour with a free Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Educational Conference for Mississippi residents on Wednesday, February 19 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm CT at the Hilton Jackson Hotel (1001 East County Line Road, Jackson). The free conference is open to everyone and will allow participants to learn from experts in the field of Alzheimer’s disease, brain health, caregiving, and legal and long-term care planning. Register by visiting www.alzfdn.org/tour. Advance registration is highly recommended.
“Knowledge is a useful and powerful tool that can help make any situation easier to navigate, especially something as challenging as caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President & CEO. “Connecting families with useful, practical information and support that can help them now and be better prepared for the future is what this conference is all about. Whether Alzheimer’s is affecting your family, you are a caregiver or just want to learn more about brain health, we invite you to join us on February 19.”
Sessions during the AFA conference will include:
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: 10 Things to Remember– Dr. Kim Tarver will provide an overview of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, including common questions, warning signs, and the differences between memory issues caused by dementia and normal aging. She will discuss common risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and go over current diagnostic and treatment approaches.
Dr. Tarver is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Division of Geriatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). She also serves as Director of MIND Center Clinical Services at UMMC. Dr. Tarver is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics and has over 20 years of experience in clinical practice and teaching in Geriatrics.
Planning for the Caregiver, Resources and Support– Dr. Chelsea B. Crittle will guide families how they can prepare to meet the demands of caregiving, develop a plan, and provide the best possible care for their loved ones. She will offer valuable information on where to seek support and access available resources.
Dr. Crittle is the Aging Division Director of the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District with the Area Agency on Aging, which provides services to older adults so they will be able to remain independent and live in their own homes as long as possible. In this role, she oversees home and community-based services on behalf of the 60-plus population and manages the funding for much needed programs and services.
Legal Planning to Pay for Long Term Care– Richard A. Courtney, CELA, will discuss the importance of estate planning and legal planning to help someone pay for long-term care. He will describe eligibility for Medicaid to pay for these expenses, as well as legal strategies to protect the assets and independence of individuals living with dementia.
Mr. Courtney is a Certified Elder Law Attorney and the Principal of Courtney Elder Law Associates PLLC. He is a former Assistant Dean and Adjunct Professor of Law; a Fellow and member of the Council of Advanced Practitioners of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; the Trust and Estate Law Sections of the American and Mississippi Bar Associations; and the Special Needs Alliance, a national organization of special needs planning attorneys.
Free, confidential memory screenings will be conducted throughout the day.
For more information or to register for the February 19 conference in Jackson, visit www.alzfdn.org/tour. Those who cannot participate in the conference or have immediate questions about Alzheimer’s disease can connect with licensed social workers seven days a week through AFA’s National Toll-Free Helpline by calling 866-232-8484, texting 646-586-5283, or web chatting at www.alzfdn.org by clicking the blue and white chat icon in the right-hand corner of the page. The web chat and text message features are available in more than 90 languages.
About Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA)
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias nationwide and to fund research for better treatment and a cure. Its services include a National Toll-Free Helpline (866-232-8484) staffed entirely by licensed social workers, caregiver support groups, educational programs and publications for caregivers, dementia-care training for healthcare professionals, the National Memory Screening Program, and more. For more information about AFA, call 866-232-8484, visit www.alzfdn.org, or connect with us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, or LinkedIn. AFA holds Charity Navigator’s top 4-star rating.
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