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Alzheimer's Association to present 'Dementia Conversations'

The Journal - 10/4/2017

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias can lead to difficult conversations for individuals with a cognitive impairment, their families, care providers and friends. To help ease these conversations, Koochiching Aging Options will host a free public presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Backus Community Center, Room 101.

The program, "Dementia Conversations," is an education workshop offered by the Alzheimer's Association. This program will offer helpful tips to assist families with difficult conversations related to dementia, including going to the doctor, deciding when to stop driving, and making legal and financial plans.

The presenter, Jenna Herbig, is the program manager for the Alzheimer's Association in the Duluth office. She holds a master of social work degree from the University of Washington and has over seven years of experience working with families and caregivers in a variety of settings.

Herbig draws upon her professional and personal experience with dementia to educate and support professional and family caregivers throughout northeast Minnesota.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. Estimates are that one in nine persons age 65 and older has Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Numbers affected are expected to increase as the population ages. Early detection can help facilitate conversations about future care and planning.

The Alzheimer's Association Minnesota-North Dakota has been providing services, information, and advocacy since 1979 to people with dementia, their families and health care providers.

The Minnesota-North Dakota chapter is one of seven founding chapters of the national Alzheimer's Association, headquartered in Chicago. It was started by family caregivers who came together around a common need of getting support and help for their loved ones with dementia.

Since its beginning, Herbig notes, this donor-supported, nonprofit association has provided information and care consultation, created supportive services for families, increased funding for dementia research, and influenced public policy changes.

This presentation is made possible in part with help from the Alzheimer's Association, a Minnesota Board on Aging dementia grant and an Older Americans Act grant from the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging.

Herbig will also visit the Koochiching Memory Café on Oct. 11.

For more information, call Koochiching Aging Options at 283-7030 or email KoochichingAgingOptions@gmail.com.

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