The Alzheimer’s Association is hosting a Community Forum in Beckley, WV on May 14, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Raleigh County Commission on Aging.
“The Alzheimer’s Association understands the importance of Alzheimer’s disease care and support programs and services in Raleigh County,” said JT Hunter, Physician Outreach Specialist for the Alzheimer’s Association, WV Chapter. “Community Forums are hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association in communities across the country, where families are invited to come together with Association staff and volunteers to mobilize our community in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.”
The Alzheimer’s Association believes no individual or family should navigate the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease alone. Community forums hosted by the Association bring together families affected by the disease with dedicated staff and volunteers to open conversation in the ongoing effort to bolster resources, programs and services to support families in their communities.
Working together with Raleigh County volunteers, the Alzheimer’s Association can ensure families have the resources needed to face the many challenges associated with the disease. Community volunteers are essential in helping the Alzheimer’s Association best serve the needs of families affected by the disease, in driving awareness and in mobilizing the Raleigh County community in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Everyone in the community is invited and welcome, but most importantly we need to hear from family care givers!!
The goals of the Community Forum are:
- Listen to the Experiences of the community related to the cause.
- Identify needs, gaps in resources, and opportunities.
- Elevating the awareness and visibility of the Alzheimer’s Association.
- Mobilize the community in order to recruit volunteers.
More than 38,000 West Virginians have Alzheimer’s. It is the most expensive disease in America, with costs now exceeding a quarter of a trillion dollars per year nationally. In WV, $414 million was the total cost to Medicaid and more than $23,000 per capita Medicare dollars were spent on caring for people with Alzheimer’s in 2018. (According to Alzheimer’s Association).
Due to the toll of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, caregivers in America have more than $11 billion in additional health care costs each year. In 2017, $88 million was reported as the higher health care cost amount for dementia caregivers in WV.
Among people with dementia, 1 in every 4 hospitalizations is preventable. In 2015 the dementia patient hospital readmission rate in WV was 22.4%.
“Alzheimer’s Disease impacts a significant number of people in the Mid-Ohio Valley, and the Alzheimer’s Association works to raise awareness about dementia and available services so that no one impacted has to feel alone. In addition to community education and support groups, the Alzheimer’s Association provides a 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900) to support caregivers, people with memory loss, and the professionals who serve them,” stated Sharon Rotenberry, Executive Director. “We strongly encourage caregivers to call the Helpline,” she added.
She also added, “And we certainly hope that caregivers will take advantage of these free workshops.”
Please register at 800-272-3900 or www.ALZ.org/WV.
About Alzheimer’s Association®
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s®. Visit www.alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
