Preferred Care at Home to Hold Free Memory Screenings

    BOCA RATON, FL, November 07, 2008 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Free confidential memory screenings will be available on November 18 as part of National Memory Screening Day, an annual initiative of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) designed to improve overall health maintenance and promote proper detection of memory problems.

AFA encourages adults, including those with memory concerns, a family history of Alzheimer's disease or a desire to establish a baseline score, to take advantage of the screenings and to pick up educational materials about memory concerns, successful aging and caregiving.

The face-to-face screening takes only about five minutes and consists of a series of questions and tasks administered by a qualified healthcare professional. The results do not represent a diagnosis, and AFA advises those individuals who score poorly or who have normal scores but are still concerned to follow up with their physician.

Now in its sixth year, AFA's National Memory Screening Day coincides with National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, which takes place during November. Sites across the country will be participating in the event.

On November 18, Preferred Care at Home will hold memory screenings nationwide at multiple franchise locations, including Florida, Tennessee, Arizona and Michigan. It will also offer game demonstrations to exercise and maintain an active mind. Take-home game materials will be available. For more information, call (561) 886-8219.

Frank Guerrieri, Preferred Care at Home's President and CEO, said, "An event like this brings attention to a widespread but often ignored condition."

"Every 71 seconds, someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. What many people don't realize is that there are many degrees of dementia leading up to Alzheimer's that are reversible. We can successfully decrease this statistic through a combination of preventative mind exercises and early detection," Guerrieri said.

Eric J. Hall, AFA's president and CEO, said National Memory Screening Day is an important vehicle "to open up a dialogue about memory concerns."

"Checking your brain health is just as critical as checking the health of the rest of your body. If you are experiencing memory problems, it is better to learn the cause earlier rather than later so that you can be pro-active," Hall said.

A subsequent medical exam may reveal that the person has a reversible condition such as a vitamin deficiency or thyroid problem, or an irreversible disorder like Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. Warning signs of dementia include forgetting people's names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills and confusion over daily routines.

For more information about National Memory Screening Day, visit www.nationalmemoryscreening.org or call 866-AFA-8484.

About The Alzheimer's Foundation

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in New York and made up of more than 950 member organizations that provide hands-on programs to meet the educational, emotional, practical and social needs of families affected by Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses.

About Preferred Care at Home

Preferred Care at Home is a national non-medical home care agency franchise, specializing in affordable elderly care to assist with daily tasks and offer emotional and social companionship. Services are provided in-home or at care facilities and enable clients to celebrate life, dignity and independence. For more information, visit http://www.preferhome.com.

Media Contact:
Allison Lloyd
[email protected]
561-886-8219

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