NEW YORK — The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free virtual Alzheimer’s educational conference for Kansas residents from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, June 15, as part of its 2021 national Educating America Tour. The conference, which is free and open to everyone, will allow participants to learn from, and ask questions of, health, caregiving and legal experts. To register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour. 

“Knowledge is a useful and powerful tool that can help make any situation easier to navigate, especially something as challenging as caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Charles J. Fuschillo Jr., AFA’s president and CEO. “Connecting families with useful, practical information and support that can help them now and be better prepared for the future is what this conference is all about. Whether Alzheimer’s is affecting your family, you are a caregiver or just want to learn more, you can participate in this free virtual conference from the comfort of your home or office.”  

Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of The Dr. Oz Show, will be a guest speaker and share his family’s personal Alzheimer’s story regarding the diagnosis of his mother, Suna Oz. Dr. Oz will describe how the diagnosis impacted his family, as well as share tips to promote good brain health and healthy aging.

Sessions during the AFA virtual conference will include:

• Alzheimer’s Disease Update: From Treatment to Prevention – Jeffrey Burns, MD, MS, Co-Director of the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center and Edward H. Hashinger Professor of Neurology with the University of Kansas Medical Center, will discuss the latest information on Alzheimer’s treatment and prevention, including his research on how lifestyle issues such as diet and exercise can help prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.  

• Elder Care and Asset Protection: Get the care you need without draining your savings – Rachel A. Spaethe, Esq., an Elder Law with KC Elder Law, will offer advice on how to cover the mounting costs of long-term care without dipping into the legacy you want to leave behind.  

• The Connection of Grief and Alzheimer’s – Michelle Niedens, LSCSW, Director of the Cognitive Care Network at the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center and Eric Sigler, LMSW, a Grief Support Specialist with Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, will provide a brief analysis of grief and the common types of grief associated with Alzheimer’s disease. They will explain how caregivers, while grieving, may interact with the individual to create healing bonds and wellness for the caretaker and for the individual with Alzheimer’s.  

For more information or to register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour. Those who cannot participate in the virtual conference or have immediate questions about Alzheimer’s disease can connect with licensed social workers seven days a week through AFA’s National Toll-Free Helpline by calling 866-232-8484 or web chatting at www.alzfdn.org by clicking the blue and white chat icon in the right-hand corner of the page. The web chat feature is available in more than 90 languages.