(West Palm Beach,
FL, May 15, 2011)—Spanning two days, the
2011 Alzheimer’s Educational Conference attracted
nearly 1,000 caregivers and health care
professionals to the Palm Beach County Convention
Center who heard from renowned experts in the field
of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
Speakers addressed a wide variety of topics
including the latest research, legal considerations,
long-term care issues, caregiver wellness and
caregiving techniques.
The highlight of the Conference was Friday’s keynote
address by bestselling author Gail Sheehy, who
discussed the caregiver’s journey, gleaned from her
17 years of caring for her husband. Award-winning
journalist and advocate for caregivers, Sheehy,
spoke of her personal challenges navigating the
labyrinth of caregiving options and included
inspirational stories of families who she met along
the way. Ms. Sheehy’s presentation discussed the
human aspects of caregiving along with practical and
creative strategies helpful to anyone facing this
inevitable journey. “I had nine months to prepare
for the birth of my child, and about nine hours to
prepare for the dependence of my husband,” stated
Sheehy. “I had a new role—caregiver—again. We’re
all going to have this role. This is the big
passage for Boomers today.”
Other featured speakers included Clinical Chief and
Director of Geriatric Services at the Brigham and
Women’s Hospital, Dr. Juergen Bludau, Scripps
Research Insitute Neuroscience Chairman, Dr. Ron
Davis and national advocate for younger-onset
Alzheimer’s disease and caregiver, Laura Jones.
During the two-day conference, there were a total of
40 presentations spanning topics of interest to both
caregivers and health care professionals.
The Grand Benefactor of the 2011 Alzheimer’s
Educational Conference is The Sydelle and Arthur
Meyer Foundation. Other sponsors include the Sydney
Goldstein Charitable Foundation, Arden Courts Memory
Care Community, JFK Medical Center Foundation and
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Conference
Co-Chairs are Amy Dean and Tenna Wiles.
For more information regarding the 2011 Alzheimer’s
Educational Conference or Alzheimer’s Community
Care, please visit
www.alzcare.org or call (561) 683-2700.
The mission of Alzheimer's
Community Care is to promote and provide
specialized, quality, compassionate care within a
community-based environment to patients and
caregivers living with Alzheimer's disease and
related disorders.