Alzheimer's Association holding two forums to get intel on local dementia care

The local Alzheimer's Association would like your feedback.

Have you or someone you know been impacted by Alzheimer’s or dementia? If so, the organization invites you to one of two community discussions to explore how the nonprofit can best support people in the Coachella Valley area and learn more about brain health.

The Alzheimer's Association, a national organization that is working "to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection and maximizing quality care and support," according to its website, will be holding two local community forums: one for the valley's Hispanic community on May 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Indio Senior Center, which will be conducted in both English and Spanish, and an LGBTQ+-focused forum June 13 at the Mizell Center in Palm Springs from 5 to 7 p.m.

According to Jennifer Zuckerman, program and education manager for the Alzheimer's Association, Coachella Valley, "community forums are a great way to educate the community on Alzheimer's and dementia, provide materials and find out what other services the community would like."

The latter is what the nonprofit is seeking at its upcoming events.

For the May 24 forum, "there will be raffles along with a presentation by us, the Alzheimer's Association," Zuckerman says. "And we are going to find out, directly from the community, what things that they'd like to see develop, if it be more support groups in their area, if they'd like to see more socialization programs, more Spanish speaking programs for them regionally in their area, whatever. We're listening."

Zuckerman says attendees at the June 13 event will hear from a panel of speakers on specific issues facing the valley's LGBTQ+ community and will be able to obtain resources.

Questions for which the association are seeking answers include: What would you like us to offer? What are your current thoughts about the Alzheimer's Association? What do you know about the organization? What are some of the challenges your particular community has in connecting with the Alzheimer's Association?

"We really want to make sure we are outreaching with these communities more, giving them more education, giving them more services and materials," Zuckerman says. "These groups don't always seek out resources. They tend to stay within their own communities to handle these types of issues, Alzheimer's and dementia, memory loss. So, these are important groups to reach out to, and to do this with."

At the forums, attendees will also be able to learn about the Alzheimer's Association. They will learn why it's important to recognize the signs what to do when you recognize the signs.

Admittance to both events is free. To make a reservation, contact Zuckerman at (760) 996-0006 ext. 8410 or via jlzuckerman@alz.org.

As the philanthropy and special sections editor at The Desert Sun, Winston Gieseke writes about nonprofits, fundraising and locals who give back. Reach him at winston.gieseke@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Alzheimer's Association holding two forums to get intel on local care