ACA’s Spring Care Baskets support the deserving families who are on one of our service programs. Filled with meat and staples, each basket will be hand delivered by an ACA volunteer. It is easy to remember those in need at Christmas, but the families we serve have needs year-round! Click here to donate $25 to sponsor a Basket for a family. Your donation can be made in honor or memory of a loved one.
ACA is bringing the Garden Art Party back, May 6, at the Fennec, Birmingham! Live & silent auction to benefit ACA’s service programs for low- income families living with Alzheimer’s. https://alzca.org/gap/
AFA Care Connection Webinar: Improving Quality of Life with Music-Based Interventions. April 13, noon – 1 pm CT, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America | Care Connection Webinar: Improving Quality of Life with Music-Based Interventions (alzfdn.org)
The Day Place Open House, April 15 and 29, 9:30 – 11, 835 Odum Road, Suite 101, Gardendale. www.thedayplace.com or Angela at 205-285-9245.
Free, confidential memory screening, Titusville Senior Center, Monday, April 17, 9 – noon. Contact Ella Davis 205-566-1695. Each memory screening takes approximately 15 minutes and while the result is not a diagnosis, it can suggest if someone should see a physician for a full evaluation.
Discovery United Methodist Church is offering a series, Aged to Perfection, Tuesday evenings, through May 2, at 6:30. ACA Executive Director, Miller Piggott, will speak on Understanding Dementia and Care for the Caregiver, April 18. 5487 Stadium Trace Parkway, Hoover. www.discoveryumc.org.
M4A Long Term Care Planning Conference, April 26, 9 – 3, Rolling Hills Conference Center, Calera. https://www.humanresourceoptions.com/upcomingseminars
- ACA’s support group with Miller & Vance, Tuesdays, April 11, 11 – noon CT. Call (205) 871-7970 ormpiggott@alzca.org. Join us on zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86450491838
- CJFS CARES, Mondays at 3 pm, contact Pam Leonard, pam@cjfsbham.org.
- St Lukes Episcopal Church on Tuesdays at 10:15. Contact Betsy Smith (smith35213@gmail.com) or Janis Cole (janiscarole3@aol.com).
- West Alabama Area Agency on Aging, Caregiver Support Group, Tuesdays, contact Nikki Poe, nikki.poe@westal.org.
- The Oaks on Parkwood, 4th Tuesday’s, 10:00 am, Contact: Karen Glover, karenrglover@gmail.com.
- CJFS CARES, Tuesdays, 7:00 pm, contact Pam Leonard, pam@cjfsbham.org.
- United Way Area Agency on Aging of Jefferson County, 3rd Tuesday of each month 11:30-12:30, contact Valarie Lawson, vlawson@uwaaa.org
- Leeds, 1st Tuesday, 6:30 pm. Contact Julie Slagle jslagle@lakesidehospice.org
- Pell City, 2nd Tuesday, 2:30 pm. Contact Julie Slagle, jslagle@lakesidehospice.org
- M4A, 2nd Thursday’s, noon – 1 pm. Contact Crystal Whitehead, cwhitehead@m4a.org
- M4A, 3rd Wednesday’s 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Contact Crystal Whitehead, cwhitehead@m4a.org
- Asbury United Methodist Church 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 1:00, contact Maggie Dunaway at mdunaway@asburyonline.org.
Alzheimer’s News:
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. April 11 is World Parkinson’s Day. Every 6 minutes, someone will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the U.S. to learn more about signs and symptoms visit:https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-2037605
6 Fun and Festive Easter Activities for Seniors – DailyCaring
Learn more about preparing for a natural disaster.
A magnesium-rich diet has been linked to better brain health, an outcome that may help lower dementia risk, new research suggests. Foods of particular interest included leafy green vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, all of which are magnesium rich. Magnesium-Rich Diet Linked to Lower Dementia Risk (medscape.com)
Sometimes it seems like seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia get angry at the drop of a hat. Most likely, they’re suddenly reaching a breaking point because of built-up frustrations from everyday tasks. To reduce these flare-ups, they need help to decrease their stress and feelings of overwhelm. DailyCaring explains what causes this frustration and anger and shares 10 tips to make everyday life easier and less stressful for people living with dementia. Dementia and Anger: 10 Calming Strategies – DailyCaring
The presence of apathy may predict conversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), new research suggests. Investigators followed more than 1000 individuals with MCI over an 8-year period. During that time, close to one fifth converted from MCI to AD. Of those with apathy, 36% developed AD versus 14% of those without apathy. Moreover, conversion to AD was more rapid in those with apathy versus those without — a median of almost 4 years compared with a median of almost 7 years. Apathy in MCI May Herald Conversion to Alzheimer’s (medscape.com)
AFA offers stress relief: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America | Six Steps to Reduce Caregiver Stress During National Stress Awareness Month in April (alzfdn.org)
Genes are the building blocks that make us who we are — what we look like, how we age, and even which diseases we may develop. Understanding the role genes play in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is key to finding effective methods of prevention and treatment. Watch a new NIA video to learn about genetics and Alzheimer’s disease
April Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite: https://alabamarespite.org/events2/