MORE THAN HALF OF ALL NURSING HOME RESIDENTS HAVE DEMENTIA
Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Conference-More Important than Ever

Cedar Rapids, July 16, 2008 – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics recently announced that Alzheimer’s disease has superseded diabetes in annual mortality rates, making Alzheimer’s the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Your attendance at The Alzheimer’s Association East Central Iowa Chapter’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Education Conference is now more important than ever. The event will take place Thursday, August 14th, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Cedar Rapids Marriott, 1200 Collins Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids.

Now in its 14th year, the Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Education Conference provides care professionals with the opportunity to connect with peers from around the Eastern Iowa; learn from renowned aging experts; and participate in educational programs tailored to address the unique needs and demands of the profession.

If you're a direct care worker, nurse, activity specialist, supervisor or other care professional, this conference promises to provide you with tools and information that can be easily and quickly incorporated into your everyday work.

The conference will begin with a day session targeted for profession and paraprofessional caregivers. Paul Mulhausen, MD, a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Iowa’s Department of Internal Medicine, will be delivering his keynote address, Plaques, PETs, & Pittsburgh Compound B: Update on the Clinical Science of Alzheimer’s Disease. The second keynote speaker, Karen Stobbe, is the author of “Sometimes Ya Gotta Laugh” and a nationally recognized speaker and innovative trainer in dementia care. She will deliver her keynote address, Communication Tips & Tools for Behavior.

Other sessions throughout the day include: Now What: Ideas for a Meaningful Day, Enhancing Compliance in Dementia Care, and End Stage Alzheimer’s Care.

The conference registration fee is $65 or $80 if registration is received after July 31, 2008. The fee includes lunch, refreshments, handouts, and CEUs or certificates for contact hours.

A separate evening session for care partners, family, friends and direct care staff will be offered free of charge beginning at 5:30 p.m. Evening session topics include: Financial Planning, presented by Linda Cline, and From Caregiver to Caregiver: Answers to Your Questions, presented by Karen Stobbe.

The presenting sponsor for the 14th Annual Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Education Conference is Iowa Hospice.

To learn more about the conference or to receive a conference brochure, call the Alzheimer’s Association East Central Iowa Chapter at 319.294.9699 or visit www.alz.org/eci.

The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. For more information, visit www.alz.org/eci.