Keynote Speakers for the Greater New Orleans 2010 Dementia Care Conference

Bill Bridgwater Returns to the Louisiana Chapter to Speak in New Orleans at Dementia Care Conference

Bill Bridgwater had a successful 25-year career in the global information technology field before being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at age 48.  The first individual diagnosed with the disease to serve on the national board of directors of the Alzheimer’s Association, Bill has become a nationally recognized advocate and speaker on issues related to Alzheimer’s disease.  Bill and his wife, Twyla, live in Colorado where they are active leaders with the Alzheimer’s Association and with Colorado’s Alzheimer’s Coordinating Council.  When Bill spoke at the Shreveport Dementia Care Conference last year, attendees were touched by Bill’s candor, his remarkably positive attitude and his drive to advocate for as long as he can.
 
According to Bill, “The reason that I do this is because if I can change someone’s life or even just spread the word, then that is all worthwhile.  If I can inspire someone to research for a cure and possibly find it, then I’ll continue until I no longer can.  That is what the Alzheimer’s Association needs.  They need someone with Alzheimer’s who can speak out about the disease to do so.”  It is hard to imagine someone doing it better than Bill.

During Bill’s professional career, he held the positions of Senior Vice President, Director, President and Chief Operating Officer while working at four separate multi-billion dollar corporations.  Bill holds certification in Advance Technology from MIT and is an Attaway Fellow.   Bill served on the boards of several companies as well as the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). 
Now in his role as an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association, Bill has appeared on all major television networks and has done documentaries with PBS and the Discovery Channel.  National Public Radio, G.Q. magazine, Smart Money magazine and Philanthropy magazine have also interviewed Bill.  Earlier this year, Bill appeared with former football coaches Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson in public service announcements on the Fox Sports network seeking support for research through the Alzheimer's Association.

Bill and Twyla have been married 31 years and have one son, Brandon, who is 29.  Bill and Twyla regularly meet with legislators at both the state and national levels in support of pending Alzheimer legislation and healthcare reform.  In addition, they serve as consultants / advisors to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) regarding Alzheimer’s disease - also, the first time an individual with Alzheimer’s disease has served in this capacity.
 
Bill’s desire is to utilize the knowledge and skills he developed in the business world to serve as an advocate for Alzheimer’s patients worldwide.  “I realize I will die from Alzheimer’s disease.  However, my dream is for our children and grandchildren to one day live in a world where there is a cure for Alzheimer’s.”

The incredible response to Bill’s presentation a year ago in Shreveport made us eager to invite him back to Louisiana to speak again at the New Orleans Dementia Care Conference.

Miquel Rivera, M.D. to  Speak at New Orleans Dementia Care Conference

Dr. Rivera is Medical Director of Mental Health and Well-Being at 9 assisted living and long term care facilities in Sarasota, FL.  For the last 7 years he has been dedicated full time to the care of residents in these unique settings where the patient population ranges from the early twenties to the early one hundreds.

Dr. Rivera has initiated the use of “Calming Rooms” in several of his facilities, where modalities like music, aromatherapy, color, and massage are used to improve mood and anxiety symptoms and to reduce agitation, resulting in less prescription drug use.  Dr. Rivera offers lectures and workshops regarding medication awareness, in particular medications that can affect memory, cognition, and behavior.  He also shares on the importance of lifestyle choices and how these affect the way that we think, feel, behave, and remember.

Dr. Rivera is a native of Puerto Rico, where he lived until moving to the US in 1985.  In 1997 he graduated from the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia, and in 2001 graduated from Psychiatric Residency Training at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

For more information about Dr. Rivera and his alternative approach to Alzheimer’s treatment visit his website at www.cognicity.org.