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/
Free webinar on Coping with Crying Behavior, with Rita Jablonski, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, FGSA, May 8, at 6 pm CT. Some people living with dementia will cry easily. There are different types of crying–some crying is more redirectable than others. She will talk about ways to manage this behavior. Click here.
AFA Webinar, “Empowering Your Loved One Through Dementia-Friendly Home Design”, May 11 at noon. Alzheimer’s Foundation of America | Care Connection Webinar: Empowering Your Loved One Through Dementia-Friendly Home Design (alzfdn.org)
Mother’s Day is May 14th! 50+ Mother’s Day Gifts She’ll Love – DailyCaring
The Best of Broadway! Encore’s Community Choir is performing in a concert, at Canterbury United Methodist Church, Tuesday, May 16th, 2-3 pm! The concert is free, but you can make a donation to benefit the McCoy Adult Day Care. The Encore Shoppe will also be open so you can purchase a variety of original art!
UsAgainstAlzheimer’s is launching 6 NEW Brain Health Academy courses starting with Obesity and Dementia- May 17, noon – 1 CT. https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/brain-health-academy
Trivia Night at Cahaba Brewery, May 18, to benefit ACA’s Lindy Harrell Pre-Doctoral Scholars in Alzheimer’s research. Join us for the fun!
The Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT®), May 19, 9 – 2 pm. VDT is the original and ground-breaking, evidence-based and scientifically proven method of building a greater understanding of dementia through the use of patented sensory tools. Medicare Advisors of Alabama 2116 Columbiana Rd. Birmingham, Alabama 35209. Open to the Public. Contact Dedra Lewis to register for a time slot: 205-325-5567; lewisd@jccal.org.
Free, confidential Memory Screening, May 23, 9 – noon, Bessemer Public Library 400 19th St. North Bessemer. Contact Dedra Lewis at 205-325-5567.
Dementia 101, Vestavia Library, June 5, 6:30 – 8. Details to follow.
- ACA’s support group with Miller & Vance, Tuesdays, May 9, 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.
May Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite: https://alabamarespite.org/events2/
Alzheimer’s News:
On the eve of our biggest fundraiser of the year, I’m using this space to tell you why you should support Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama. We are a local organization and that means all of the money you give stays here in Alabama to help Alabama families.
With ACA’s limited resources, we seek to serve the neediest families in the community. There are currently 318 people living with dementia who are receiving these services from ACA:
- Adult Day Care Scholarships, allowing people with Alzheimer’s to attend the center of their family’s choice. Currently 73 people have scholarships of $300 per month, allowing them a chance to thrive in a nurturing environment while their care partner can work or enjoy a bit of respite.
- Continence Product Scholarships, delivering the intimate care needed each month to the family’s home. Currently 167 people are receiving products that are a medical necessity, but not covered by insurance. The cost of continence care has dramatically risen over the last year and averages about $91 a month.
- The nutritional supplement, Ensure, designed to boost strength and energy from a specialized nutrition blend that is complete and balanced. We are currently providing Ensure to 78 families.
- ACA partners with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department to provide Project Lifesaver bracelets for people with dementia who are at risk of wandering. There are currently 78 on the program.
- To help reduce isolation and loneliness, ACA provides robotic pets for people with Alzheimer’s. We mail weekly activity packets with art, games, and jokes to 60 families.
- Care Baskets of staples, food and supplies are delivered to 120 needy families every year.
Regardless of a family’s social or economic status, the first line of defense when faced with a diagnosis of dementia is education. We seek to educate with this weekly email, community talks, our zoom support group and website. ACA is funding 2 students who are Lindy Harrell Pre-Doctoral Scholars in Alzheimer’s Disease Research at UAB. Our goal is to help educate the next generation of researchers who can move our knowledge and understanding of this disease forward. But most importantly, ACA staff can offer an understanding ear and advice on best care practices when you call our office.
Tomorrow, May 6, ACA is bringing our Garden Art Party back after a 4-year covid hiatus. We’re looking forward to seeing you there, but if you can’t make it, you can still offer your support of ACA. Thank you for being a part of the good work ACA is doing! To donate click here: www.alzca.org/donate.now/