Aging Disability Network Minutes 11-10-10

AGING & DISABILITY NETWORK OF SARATOGA COUNTY MINUTES:
Tuesday, November 9, 2010

St. Edward the Confessor Church, Clifton Park, NY

Present: Jane Hurst (Saratoga Co. OFA), Katherine Henry (So. Saratoga YMCA), Christy Wightman (So. Saratoga YMCA), Diane Dwyer (Dugan Hill Enterprises), Barb Talbot (Section 8 Family Self-Sufficiency), Karl Francis (CDCI, Inc.), Debra Obenhoff (Home Helpers and Direct Link), Katherine McKeon (ILCHV), Carrie Snyder (ILCHV), Linda Little (Parish Nurse, Calvary Episcopal), Carol Drummond (Parish Nurse, Calvary Episcopal), Peter Whitten (Shelters of Saratoga), Shaun Cox (Shelters of Saratoga), John Penzer (Shelters of Saratoga), Leslie Carroll (Vet Help), Richard Amico (St. Edward the Confessor), Holly Pajak (Redesign in Mind), Alice Richmond (Saratoga Co. OFA), Linda Powers (Home Instead Sr. Care), Bonnie Logan (RSVP), Cheryl Lawyer (NABA), Kim Swire (CHOICES at St. Peter's), Shelli Crogan (Interim Healthcare), Jennifer Frigolette (Attentive Home Companions), Ann Quinn (Home Health Care Partners), Karen Clark (Home Health Care Partners), Laurie Glogowski (Wesley Evergreen), Robin Blostein (Eddy VNA), Cathy Tucker (Ameriprise Financial), Mary Sala (Saratoga Co. OFA), Cindy Harrington (Shelters of Saratoga ), Ginny Stoliker (Shelters of Saratoga ), Bev Custer (Mechanicville Community Center), Amanda Mondello (Mechanicville Comm. Ctr.), Kathy Wallace (SAIL), Barb McHugh (Town of Clifton Pk.), Ben Nichols (Saratoga Co. OFA)

Next meeting: December 14, 2010
Networking and Holiday Get-Together

Location: Malta Community Center, 1 Bayberry Drive, Malta, NY
**We will hold meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, 2:00-3:30 p.m., unless otherwise indicated.

“Our mission is to promote community awareness of the programs and services available to Saratoga County residents who are aging and/or disabled, and their caregivers, so as to better meet the needs of these ever increasing populations.”

Introductions & Announcements:
• Opening/Introduction-Cindy Harrington
• Shelters of Saratoga-First Annual Gala to be held 4/7/11
• Seton Health at Schuyler Ridge-"Live Well, Die Well"-Sunday, 11/21/10, 3-5 p.m.
• Independent Living Center of Troy-Open House at new address: 15-3rd Street, Troy-Thursday, 11/18/10, 3-6 p.m.
• Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley -"Lunch and Learn"-Monthly Meeting-Presenter: United Way-211 line-new services
• Dugan Hill Enterprises-"Putting the Fun Back in Dysfunctional"
• Home Health Care Partners, Amsterdam-Employee Cindy Brody, homecare aide, received state award
• Re-Design in Mind-downsizing/resizing for seniors and the disabled
• November 17, 2010, candlelight vigil; also, food drive
• Cindy Harrington- Concerning meeting cancellations: There will be no meeting if Meals on Wheels is cancelled. Also, you can go online or to Cap News 9 for information about cancellations.

Speakers: "Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia"

Karen Britt, Western Region Program Manager, Alzheimer's Association of Northeastern New York
Lucille Phelps, Dementia Care Manager, Albany V.A. Hospital
Diane VanDusen, Manager, Clinical Dementia Services, Eddy Alzheimer's Services

Speaker 1: Karen Britt
• November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
• Received small grant to create dementia-ready workforce
• 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer's Disease
• Alzheimer's Disease is one type of Dementia, but there are many.
• Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease
• Only 25% of people with Alzheimer's Disease are in outside care.
• If you live to be 85, you have a 40-50% risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease. At 65, your risk 1 in 10. At 70, it is 2 in 10. At 75, it is 3 in 10. At 80, it is 4 in 10.These figures are conservative.
• If you have a parent or a sibling with Alzheimer's Disease, at age 60, your risk of developing the disease becomes 3 in 10.
• Protein buildup in brain - effects of, and relationship to, Alzheimer's Disease
• Mild cognitive impairment is often a pre-cursor to Alzheimer's Disease.
• Poor nutrition and stroke can also cause Alzheimer's Disease.
• The disease can last 2-20 years. (Average=8-10 years from onset)
• Alzheimer's Disease is fatal.


Speaker 2: Lucille Phelps
• Request to audience to refer to V.A. Hospital any veteran who is not yet in healthcare system.
• They can do a dementia evaluation.
• They can request help from family members and other caregivers via a pre-screening questionnaire.
• PTSD can affect the brain chemically, per an 11/11/10 HBO documentary on PTSD.
• Description of vascular dementias

Speaker 3: Diane VanDusen
• Maria Shriver's book-informative
• 14th Annual Conference of Caregivers-Friday, 11/12/10, Marriott Hotel on Wolf Road in Colonie
• Keynote speaker is Dr. Richard Mayieu.
• Additional speakers, including Dr. John Pelizzi
• Cost: $40.-family; $85.-professionals
• Lunch is included.
• Diane conducts caregiver classes throughout the year.
• Medication is of questionable effectiveness with this illness.


Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie L. Logan, Volunteer
Saratoga County Office for the Aging/RSVP