Senior
Spotlight
By John Toscano

Maureen Reagan To Speak At Alzheimer’s Workshop Event

Maureen Reagan

Former President Ronald Reagan has been suffering from a severe case of Alzheimer’s disease over the past few years, so his daughter, Maureen, should offer significantly keen insights into his situation for other disease sufferers and caregivers when she appears in Manhattan next month as the keynote speaker at an Alzheimer’s Association event.

Ms. Reagan, who is the national spokesperson for the Alzheimer’s Association, will discuss how her relationship with her father has changed since he was diagnosed with the disease, how her family has been affected, the importance of early recognition, caregiver stress and the opinions held by families and caregivers today compared to 10 years ago.

Ms. Reagan’s talk is set for Monday, Sept. 18th at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Lexington Avenue and East 42nd Street at Grand Central Station in Manhattan. The occasion will be the Early Stage Intervention workshop held by the city chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. The fees for the day-long workshop are $75 for professionals and $35 for caregivers and Alzheimer’s sufferers.

Registration starts at 8 a.m. and includes continental breakfast. Ms. Reagan will address a noontime luncheon. workshops will run from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

Dr. Norman Relkin, a prominent expert on the disease, will present a scientific review as part of the workshop sessions. Relkin is associate professor of clinical neurology and neuroscience at Cornell Medical College and director of the Cornell Memory disorders program and the Behavioral Neurology Fellowship at Cornell Medical Center. He is also associate attending physician in neurology at New York Presbyterian Hospital

The objectives of the workshops are to better understand the person behind the disease, explore the stigma surrounding it, understand communications difficulties caused by the disease, raise public awareness and to disseminate other information about support groups. There will also be a special workshop presentation in Spanish.

Current statistics project that in New York City there are more than 160,000 persons with Alzheimer’s, with that figure anticipated to increase to nearly 195,000 by 2025 and to increase sharply after that date.

"After age 65, one in every 10 Americans has the disease, but after 85 half of us do," stated John A. Jagar, executive director of the New York City chapter.

For more information on the Sept. 18th program or to register, call the Alzheimer’s Association, NYC Chapter, at (212) 983-0700, ext. 230.

‘HELPING HANDS’: The Ridgewood Older Adult Center and Services has initiated a new program, Helping Hands, to assist seniors with problems in Medicare, food stamps, HEAP and victims’ assistance, all free of charge. Headed by Susan Wederman, the office is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also, on Fridays, between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. free blood pressure monitoring will be available. The office is located at 69-47 A Cooper Ave., Glendale. If you have any questions, call (718) 821-7059.

CHANGE IN SHOPPING SCHEDULE: The weekly food shopping transportation service sponsored by the Middle Village Adult Center is now held on Monday mornings instead of Wednesdays. It serves seniors in Middle Village, Glendale and Maspeth. Participants are picked up at their homes between 9:30 and 10 a.m., taken to the Edwards Supermarket on Grand Avenue in Maspeth, and then returned home. To arrange for a pickup call the center at (718) 894-3441but not on Monday. A $1 voluntary contribution is requested.

The center, located at 69-10 75th St., Middle Village, also provides transportation for seniors to and from doctors’ offices, clinics, hospitals and nursing homes. Offices in Manhattan and on Long Island as well as in Queens are included. Call to make appointments.

AARP MEETINGS: City Councilmember John Sabini (D–Jackson Heights) will be the guest speaker at the next AARP Jackson Heights Chapter number 991 meeting next Wednesday, Sept. 6th at 12:45 p.m. at the Community United Methodist Church, 81-10 35th Ave., Jackson Heights.

On the same day, AARP Chapter number 2889 will meet at 12:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Newtown, 54-05 Seabury St., Elmhurst. Jeffrey Levy will talk on "Top Stock and Mutual Fund Picks for the Millenium."