The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s (AFA) national “Educating America Tour” will stop in Nashville, with AFA’s free Concepts in Care educational conference, on Friday, April 13th at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theatre, located at 222 Fifth Avenue South, from 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

The conference will provide Alzheimer’s-related education and services, and caregiving techniques and strategies to individuals living with Alzheimer’s, their family and professional caregivers, and the general public.  Free memory screenings will also be offered. 

“While scientists continue to search for treatments and a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there is an immediate need to support and provide resources to the more than 110,000 people in Tennessee living with this disease and their caregivers,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s president and CEO. “This conference brings together some of the nation’s leading dementia and caregiving experts to share information as well as educate the general public about Alzheimer’s disease and early detection services.”

There will be a session on building your family’s caregiving team from detection of the disease to diagnosis and care.  The panel of experts will discuss valuable strategies to aid in the caregiving process. 

Chief Gene Saunders, founder and chief executive office of Project Lifesaver International (PLI) will lead a discussion on how to protect someone with Alzheimer’s disease from hazardous situations in their home.  He will provide tips on how to make their home safer, prevent wandering, reduce the risk of injury, adapt to changes in behavior and functionality, and other ways to safeguard an individual with the disease.

Another session will teach how to expand and enhance holistic creative arts therapies in Alzheimer’s care, led by Tara De Luca, Certified Art Therapist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Eileen Wallach, LMSW, GC-C, Founder of Your Heart on Art.    Creative arts therapies such as music, art, or drama and holistic modalities, including yoga, visualization, breathing, aroma, and Reiki/massage, can improve an Alzheimer’s patient’s quality of life.  They will demonstrate how art transforms and enhances well-being by developing opportunities to serve others in need.

The final session will feature a discussion on programs, services and initiatives that are available to help families living with Alzheimer’s disease in Tennessee.  It will feature AFA member organizations, Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee and Senior Helpers.

For more information or to register, please visit: https://alzfdn.org/event/afa-national-educating-america-tour-nashville/.