Alzheimer's Foundation brings support event to Albuquerque

New Mexico has 46,000 people aged 65 and older who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and nearly 7 million have been diagnosed nationwide, according to the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement.

There is no cure for the disease right now.

Bert E. Brodsky, founder of Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, knew the story of Alzheimer’s too well as a caregiver to his mother, who lived with the disease for over a decade. Brodsky decided to create a company aimed at providing resources to those afflicted by the disease.

Charles Fuschillo, CEO and president of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, decided the best way to raise awareness about the tools their company provides was by touring America to provide people the resources they need to better the lives of loved ones and caregivers alike, and the company’s next story is in Albuquerque.

“The goal is always for empowerment, that people will come in and have greater knowledge about the disease and also about their own brain health and wellness,” Fuschillo said.

The event will provide an overview of the disease itself by Dr. Gary Rosenberg — a professor of neurology at the University of New Mexico and founding director of the UNM Memory and Aging Center. A series of speakers will provide New Mexicans with local resources.

The information is not just for those experiencing Alzheimer’s disease. The conference will provide caregivers with the resources they need to not only better take care of family members, but of themselves.

In New Mexico, 67,000 people are caregivers to their family members, providing over $2 million worth of unpaid care each year.

“There’s a session on how you deal with aggressive behaviors if you’re a caregiver, because agitation and aggression are two of the most problematic behaviors that a caregiver may encounter when they’re caring for somebody with dementia,” said Chris Schneider, director of media relations for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

One of the main highlights of the conference is the free, confidential memory screening test, which can help indicate whether an additional check-up by a qualified health professional is required. The screening consists of a series of questions or tasks designed to test memory and language skills, along with other intellectual functions.

“We like to say it’s a checkup from the neck up,” Fuschillo said. “This is a screening of your brain and your memory. The best thing we hear from participants when they leave is ‘I have a greater knowledge now about certain things in my life that I didn’t have before.”

At the end of the conference, guests will have the opportunity to ask questions during the open panel Q&A.

“We want to ensure that nobody goes on this journey alone, and they have the support services and education that they need,” Fuschillo said.