Alzheimer's Association to Hold Town Hall Meeting

Please join us Thursday, Sept. 20 at the Central IllinoisChapter office, 606 W. Glen Ave., for a town hall-style meeting about the needfor safety services for those with Alzheimer’s disease, children with autism,and other individuals who wander from home.
The program starts at 1 p.m. and is being held inconjunction with World Alzheimer’s Month. Area legislators and members of thePeoria County Sheriff’s Department’s search and rescue team will be among thosein attendance.
Sixty percent of people with Alzheimer's disease willwander. Preparing communities for the mounting Alzheimer's crisis is one of the10 key challenges the National Alzheimer's Plan must address, according to anationwide survey. Chief among the topics to be discussed Thursday is the needfor families to have more information on, and access to, safety trackingdevices.
“The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to working withlawmakers, law enforcement and first responders to ensure they are equipped tomanage the unique safety challenges of individuals with Alzheimer’s,” saidNikki Vulgaris-Rodriguez, executive director of the Central Illinois Chapter.
In the Peoria area, more than 12,500 people are living withthe disease. Statewide, there are 210,000.
Experts say the number of people living with Alzheimer’s will more than tripleby mid century. The stigma attached to the disease keeps many of these peopleand their families from purchasing or registering for safety devices.
Friday, Sept. 21 is World Alzheimer’s Day. Please help theChapter increase awareness of the safety options available to the community andopen up those doors that the stigma of the disease may have previously keptshut.

WHAT:	Town-hall style meeting on the need for families to have access to safety tracking devices, such as transmitter systems, for those who wander
WHEN:	1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012
WHERE:	Central Illinois Chapter, 606 W. Glen Ave., Peoria (Sheridan and Glen, by Davis Bros. Pizza)
WHO:	Nikki Vulgaris, executive director of the Central Illinois Chapter; Peoria County Sheriff’s Department search and rescue team; Tom Liessen, Quincy Police Department; Mike Chylewski, Care Trak Systems International

The Alzheimer's Association – Central Illinois Chapter isa donor-supported, not-for-profit health organization serving 20 counties inIllinois. For additional information or for help, please visit the website at www.alz.org/illinoiscentral orcall 800.272.3900.