On April 21, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital will be hosting an educational program entitled, “Conversations about Dementia,” designed to help community members talk about some challenging and often uncomfortable topics.
Presented by Maggie Lewis, MPA, LNHA, director of programs and services for the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, this program will clarify many of the signs and resources, and clearly outline what steps can be taken.
“Many in our community confront issues with Alzheimer’s and related dementias,” says Lewis. “Often, we are unsure of seeing the signs of dementia and what steps need to be taken to plan for its occurrence.”
Program participants will learn and share tips for having difficult conversations that arise when someone shows signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia. They will receive help in planning ahead and building a care team that works and communicates well, and hear from people who are dealing with similar issues.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association website at www.alz.org, more than 5 million Americans are living with the disease and as many as 16 million will have the disease in 2050. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is estimated to total $214 billion in 2014. Nearly one in every three seniors who dies each year has Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
The public is invited to this free event, which will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the BMH Brew Barry Conference Room.
For more information, please call 257-8877 or visit BMH online at www.bmhvt.org.
BMH has provided healthcare services for more than one hundred years. A licensed, 61-bed, not-for-profit community hospital located in southeastern Vermont, it serves a rural population of about 55,000 people in 22 towns in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The medical staff includes 137 board-certified physicians, both primary care and many specialists, and its 572 employees enjoy the help of over 110 active volunteers.
