HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Department of Aging has announced that registration is open for its 2022 Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) Virtual Forum on Thursday, November 3, which will highlight the commonwealth’s ADRD best practices. Pennsylvanians living with ADRD, their families, caregivers, stakeholders, and advocates are encouraged to participate.
This annual forum, held each November during National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, is convened by PDA and the ADRD Task Force to provide education and assess progress on issues related to ADRD, strengthen partnerships and community support, identify how healthcare systems can work collaboratively within their communities, and discuss opportunities to help advance Pennsylvania’s State Plan on ADRD.
“The focus of this year’s forum is to showcase the good work being done across Pennsylvania for those living with ADRD and their families. The participating organizations and presentations are on the front lines of providing education, care, respite, and socialization for both the caregivers and those who are living with ADRD. Our hope is that they can be a source of inspiration and action for those who join us in this forum,” said Secretary of Aging Robert Torres.
The forum will include a discussion on supported decision making for older adults, particularly those who have been diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases; presentations from organizations that support people living with ADRD and their caregivers; the introduction of Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania; and a panel discussion on intergenerational companionship and respite care.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2022 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Report:
- there were an estimated 280,000 people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s in Pennsylvania in 2020 and this number is expected to increase to 320,000 by 2025
- there were 4,150 deaths from Alzheimer’s Disease in 2019
- nearly one in every three seniors who dies each year in Pennsylvania has Alzheimer’s or some other dementia
The ADRD Task Force was established by Governor Tom Wolf in 2018. Its members represent a diverse group of individuals and organizations from across the commonwealth, including representatives from consumer advocacy groups and long-term care organizations.
To register for the forum, view the agenda, and learn more about the ADRD Task force, visit the Department of Aging’s website.
