THE PURPLE TIDE: Central New York advocates take your stories to Capitol Hill

Each year, advocates from coast to coast converge on Washington, D.C. for the Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum. This year was the largest ever forum in its 25-year history, as nearly 1,000 individuals were in attendance.

Wednesday was “Hill Day.” Hundreds of Alzheimer’s advocates sporting purple sashes could be spotted around Capitol Hill in the culmination of the event. Armed with information and personal experiences, delegations made their way through the halls of congressional buildings to lobby elected officials to pledge or continue their support of the fight against Alzheimer’s.

The Central New York Chapter had four voices on the ground in the fight: Cathy James, the Chapter’s CEO; Jared Paventi, the Chapter’s chief communications officer; Jessie Cornell, associate program director for the Chapter’s Southern Tier region; and Eileen Krupka, a volunteer advocate and ambassador to Rep. Dan Maffei.

While the three staff members bring personal and professional perspectives to the fight, it was Krupka’s story that was most illuminating. Her father, Matt Donaghey, died in October after a lengthy fight with Alzheimer’s. As a volunteer, she gave her time to be in Washington and lent an important voice to our cause. Continue reading →

#SOCIALNETWORKING: Breakfast draws North Country businesses to learn about social media

WATERTOWN, N.Y. — More than 60 people filled the Hilton Garden Inn Tuesday for Social Networking & Your Business, a corporate engagement program by the Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York Chapter. The event was sponsored by Rose & Kiernan, Inc. and presented in conjunction with the Greater Watertown/North Country Chamber of Commerce.

Kim Brown, assistant director of career services for Syracuse University and one of the Central New York area’s most prolific tweeters, delivered an hour-long program on how to engage current and future clients and customers via Twitter and LinkedIn. Continue reading →

INDOOR WARRIOR TRIATHLON: First-ever indoor triathlon wraps in Liverpool

More than 55 athletes splashed, mashed and dashed to end Alzheimer’s Sunday at the Indoor Warrior Triathlon. The inaugural event for Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York Chapter was the first of its kind in Central New York and the only indoor triathlon in the nation sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association. Nearly $20,000 was raised to support Alzheimer care and research.

Renee Underwood of Liverpool was the overall event winner, tallying 14.882 miles in the pool, on a spin bike and on the track. The top male finisher was Luke Laczak of Baldwinsille with 13.965 total miles.

Overall and age group results follow… Continue reading →

NUTRITION & ALZHEIMER’S: Weight Loss

While no special diet is required for people with Alzheimer’s disease—unless they have another condition, such as diabetes, that requires diet monitoring—eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet is extremely beneficial. With the proper diet, your body will work more efficiently, you’ll have more energy, and your medications will work properly.

Weight loss is common in persons with Alzheimer’s disease. Weight loss is frequently a consequence in the later stages, but can pose a challenge in early to moderate stages as well. People maintain their weight by balancing the energy (or calories) that they take in and the energy that they expend. Weight loss occurs when people either eat less, or expend more energy.

Continue reading →

Indoor Warrior Triathlon registration ends Friday

Registration closes at Noon on April 5 for the inaugural Indoor Warrior Triathlon. The event, which benefits the Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York Chapter, is the only one of its kind in Central New York, and takes place on April 7, 2013 at Gold’s Gym, 7455 Morgan Road, Liverpool.

Athletes may register at www.alz.org/cny. The $60 entry fee includes an athlete gift and participation award. This all-ages, all-abilities indoor triathlon is a fitness challenge for all of Central New York to get involved in the fight against Alzheimer’s. The Indoor Warrior Triathlon is the only such event in the nation conducted by an Alzheimer’s Association chapter.

Indoor triathlons take a different format than traditional outdoor timed run/bike/swim events. Participants in the Indoor Warrior Triathlon will have 10 minutes to swim, 30 minutes to bike and 20 minutes to run as far as they can. A transition period between each event allows athletes to prepare for the next discipline. Overall event and age-group standings will be based on the total combined miles accumulated from each discipline. Additionally, participants can use the event website to create websites and email their friends, family and co-workers to fundraise for the cause. The top fundraisers will also be recognized at the event.

Event rules and details are available at the website or by calling Grant Fletcher at (315) 472-4201 x106.

DEMENTIACARE2013: Alzheimer’s Association empowers caregivers at annual conference

Dementia caregivers are invited to the second annual DEMENTIACARE2013 caregiving conference, May 16 at the Doubletree Hotel Syracuse in East Syracuse. This empowering, inspiring event welcomes those caring for people with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia to equip themselves with practical solutions and information.

“We are proud of the speaker lineup that we have for DEMENTIACARE2013,” said Catherine James, chief executive officer for the Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York Chapter. “After selling out last year’s conference, we worked hard to bring together a variety of presenters and topics that speak to the needs of Central New York’s dementia caregivers so they can provide the highest quality care possible to a person with dementia.” Continue reading →

Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Watertown/North Country Chamber of Commerce host social networking how-to for businesses

Social networking expert Kim Brown will be the featured presenter at Social Networking & Your Business, April 16 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1290 Arsenal St., Watertown. This interactive program, scheduled for 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., is co-presented by the Alzheimer’s Association and Greater Watertown/North Country Chamber of Commerce, and sponsored by Rose & Kiernan, Inc.

Facebook and Twitter have existed since 2004 and 2006, respectively, but businesses are only recently capitalizing on how to market their products and services to its users. Social Networking & Your Business will address the everchanging world of social media, what networks are right for specifics businesses and brands, extending a brand within a specific industry, and how to measure results.

Kim Brown is the assistant director for alumni programs at Syracuse University’s career services office. Brown is one of the university’s most prolific users of Twitter and LinkedIn. Brown is also an adjunct professor at the university’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication, where she incorporates social networking into the curriculum, and offers her expertise on the topic as a regular guest on Syracuse-area television stations.

Registration is $10, and includes continental breakfast and a speed networking program with others in attendance. Register online or call 782-8755 x108 to register.

FACTS & FIGURES: New Alzheimer’s Association report reveals 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia

According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts & Figures report released today, one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia in the United States. The new report shows that while deaths from other major diseases, such as heart disease, HIV/AIDS and stroke, continue to experience significant declines, Alzheimer’s deaths continue to rise – increasing 68 percent from 2000-2010.

“New York is home to more than 320,000 people living with Alzheimer’s disease. With deaths from this disease continuing to rise, it is clear that urgent, meaningful action is necessary,” said Catherine James, chief executive officer for the Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York Chapter. “Our community needs to come together to fight against this disease, particularly as more and more people age into greater risk for developing a disease that today has no cure.”

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and is the only leading cause of death without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression. Based on 2010 data, Alzheimer’s was reported as the underlying cause of death for 83,494 individuals – individuals who died from Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s Association 2013 Facts and Figures reveals that in 2013 an estimated 450,000 people in the United States will die with Alzheimer’s. The true number of deaths caused by Alzheimer’s is likely to be somewhere between the officially reported number of those dying from and those dying with Alzheimer’s. Continue reading →

Central New York Chapter News & Action Center

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