Wednesday, March 6, 2019
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Tucson Jewish Community Center
Cost: $45 - Individual; $75 - Professional (includes CEUs)
**NOTE: Online registration is now closed, however you may still register on the day of the conference.
Conference Agenda:
7:45 a.m. — Registration
8:30 a.m. — Opening Remarks
Presenter: Mayor Jonathan Rothschild
Description: In his final address as Mayor and in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Annual Education Conference, Mayor Rothschild will highlight the importance of the Conference in providing up-to-date information for those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
9:00 a.m. — Keynote
Presenter: Rebecca Edelmayer, PhD., Alzheimer’s Association
Title: "Moving the Needle on Alzheimer’s Research Globally"
Description: This is a time of unprecedented promise in the quest to end Alzheimer’s. Today, we are growing philanthropic support for Alzheimer's research, fostering a dynamic community of Alzheimer's scientists and securing increased federal funding for research – all of which are instrumental to finding new treatments to stop, slow and prevent Alzheimer’s disease. In this talk Dr. Edelmayer will provide a basic overview of Alzheimer’s disease and will showcase the important work of the Alzheimer’s Association in changing the trajectory of Alzheimer’s disease.
10:00 a.m. — Break
10:20am – 1st Featured Session
Presenter: Roberta Diaz Brinton, PhD., University of Arizona
Title: "From Bench to Bedside: Translational Medicine in Alzheimer’s Disease Research"
Description: Translational medicine is a rapidly growing discipline in biomedical research that aims to expedite the discovery of new diagnostic tools and treatments by using a multi-disciplinary, highly collaborative, "bench-to-bedside" approach. In her talk, Dr. Brinton will share how a multi-disciplinary approach speeds the development of Alzheimer’s interventions and some of the exciting applications that result.
11:20 a.m. — Break
11:30 a.m. — General Session
Presenter: Dan Lawler, Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter
Title: "Volunteer Powered Program Delivery: Expanding the Reach of the Alzheimer’s Association"
Description: To reach the more than 170,000 families affected by Alzheimer’s disease living within our Chapter, the Alzheimer’s Association has launched the Volunteer-Powered Program Delivery Initiative — an innovative, nationwide strategy to serve the swelling ranks of those affected. By engaging training and dedicated volunteers, the Desert Southwest Chapter has dramatically increased the number of families who have access to our programs. During this session, hear about these successes and how volunteers are effectively expanding the reach of the Alzheimer’s Association.
12:00 p.m. — LUNCH (Included)
12:45 p.m. — 2nd Featured Session
Presenter: Rebecca Powell, MD, Casa de la Luz Hospice
Title: "Novel Approaches to Behavioral Challenges"
Description: As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, behavioral challenges - including agitation - can increase. Current management of these behaviors with prescription drugs do not always work and the lack of clinical studies can be frustrating. In the context of Casa de La Luz’s innovative “Agitation Program”, Dr. Powell will share practical non-drug approaches to treating dementia behaviors and their underlying causes like boredom, pain, restlessness, and sensory overload. She will also share the project’s important findings for the first time.
12:45 p.m. — Concurrent Break Out Session
Presenters: Raul Bueno, MFT & Nallelhy Ballesteros, Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter
Title: "Diversity and Dementia: Hispanic/MexicanAmerican/Latino/Chicano/Latinx - What’s in a Name?"
Description: Some studies indicate Hispanics are about one and one-half times as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as their white counterparts. But what does it mean to be “Hispanic”? This session will highlight the importance of understanding the rich diversity among ethnic groups and how these unique differences inform approaches to care and support.
12:45 p.m. — Concurrent Break Out Session
Presenters: Karen MacDonald, M. Div & Suzanne Morrison, Ph.D., Interfaith Community Services
Title: "Honoring a Life: Advance Care Planning Conversations"
Description: “Honoring a Life: Advance Care Conversations” assists people in making their end-of-life healthcare plans, sharing these with loved ones and caregivers, and documenting their wishes so that a record of their wants regarding healthcare can be accessed whenever necessary. “Honoring a Life” provides a wealth of information, including an explanation of the importance of advance care planning, an introduction to methods for making decisions and conversing with others on the topic, and a review of two kinds of documents accepted as legal and binding by the State of Arizona. As we imagine how our closing days might look, we naturally ponder who we truly are and what we consider most important. This process itself is life-enhancing. Enhance your future by planning ahead, then get on with living!
1:45 p.m. — BREAK
2:15 p.m. — 3rd Featured Session
Presenter: Lori Nisson, MSW, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute
Title: "Ambiguous Loss: Living Effectively with Uncertainty"
Description: Ambiguous loss is a loss that occurs without closure or understanding. Caring for someone with dementia creates ongoing loss as the person is psychologically different from who they once were. Learn strategies to infuse hope and meaning into one’s life while providing care.
2:15 p.m. — Concurrent Break Out Session
Presenter: Jessica Brown, PhD, University of Arizona
Title: "Tools for Improving Communication"
Description: Join Dr. Brown as she discusses barriers to and provide solutions for communicating with individuals with dementia. This includes evaluation of decline in sensory abilities, cognitive abilities (e.g., confusion and memory), and language abilities. We will also highlight specific forms of dementia and stages in the dementia progression which result in increased communication difficulties. Finally, we will also discuss direct and indirect communication interventions, strategies and supports to enhance communication, and provide strategies for caregivers regarding the most effective ways to communicate with individuals with dementia.
2:15 p.m. — Concurrent Break Out Session
Presenter: Alireza Atri, MD, PhD, Banner Sun Health Research Institute
Title: "Demystifying Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials: A Primer on Why, What and Where Research Is and Must Go"
Description: Without clinical trials, there can be no better treatments, no prevention and no cure for Alzheimer's disease. Dozens of clinical trials are underway to diagnose, treat, slow or stop Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Learn about the current clinical trial landscape and the future of Alzheimer’s disease research.
3:15 p.m. — BREAK
3:30 p.m. — 4th Featured Session
Presenter: James Fitzpatrick, MA, Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter
Title: "Victory is Ours! But the Game’s Not Over: Policy Wins and the State of Play"
Description: 2018 was a year of momentous policy achievement. Federal funding for Alzheimer’s research has reached historic levels and critical public health legislation was signed into law that serves to transform our approach to reduce risk, detect early symptoms and advance care. But the fight is not over. Hear about these groundbreaking advocacy initiatives and the important next steps in the fight against Alzheimer’s.
4:00 p.m. — Closing Feature
Presenter: Kara Madden, University of Arizona
Title: "(Me)mory: A Dance Performance + Q&A"
Description: Kara Madden is an MFA candidate in dance at the University of Arizona. With the help of the Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter, Kara has been interviewing families affected by Alzheimer’s disease. In this conference session, Kara will present a portion of her full-length Master's thesis dance performance to express various perspectives of the disease and explore how it affects those with dementia and their care partners, families and loved ones. A question and answer session will follow.
4:45 p.m. — Closing and Evaluations