National Event Stresses the Importance of Early Detection and Treatment

Free confidential memory screenings will be available at Sid Jacobson JCC on November 18 as part of National Memory Screening Day, an annual initiative of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) designed to improve overall health maintenance and promote proper detection of memory problems. Sid Jacobson JCC will provide the memory screenings in collaboration with Zucker Hillside Hospital’s Neuwirth Memory Disorders Program.

AFA encourages adults, including those with memory concerns, a family history of Alzheimer’s disease or a desire to establish a baseline score, to take advantage of the screenings and to pick up educational materials about memory concerns, successful aging and caregiving.

The face-to-face screening takes only about five to ten minutes and consists of a series of questions and tasks. The results do not represent a diagnosis, and AFA advises those individuals who score poorly or who have normal scores but are still concerned to follow up with their physician or another qualified healthcare professional.

Now in its sixth year, AFA’s National Memory Screening Day coincides with National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, which takes place during November. Sites across the country will be participating in the event.

On November 18, Sid Jacobson JCC will hold memory screenings at 300 Forest Drive in East Hills, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. For more information, contact Connie Wasserman at 516-484-1545 or cwasserman@sjjcc.org.

Eric J. Hall, AFA’s president and CEO, said National Memory Screening Day is an important vehicle “to open up a dialogue about memory concerns.”

“Checking your brain health is just as critical as checking the health of the rest of your body. If you are experiencing memory problems, it is better to learn the cause earlier rather than later so that you can be pro-active,” Hall said.

A subsequent medical exam may reveal that the person has a reversible condition such as a vitamin deficiency or thyroid problem, or an irreversible disorder like Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. Warning signs of dementia include forgetting people’s names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills and confusion over daily routines.

For more information about National Memory Screening Day, visit www.nationalmemoryscreening.org or call 866-AFA-8484.

This year, the premier sponsor of the event is Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Forest Pharmaceuticals is the presenting sponsor; and Eisai Inc. and Pfizer Inc are the event’s Remembrance sponsors.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in New York and made up of more than 950 member organizations that provide hands-on programs to meet the educational, emotional, practical and social needs of families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses. AFA’s services include a toll-free hot line, counseling, educational materials, a free caregiver magazine, and professional training. For information, call (toll-free) 866-AFA-8484 or visit www.alzfdn.org.

As the only full-service Jewish Community Center on Long Island's North Shore, the Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center provides a full range of cutting edge recreational, health, fitness, educational, cultural, arts and social services programs. The Sid Jacobson JCC promotes Jewish identity and provides a comprehensive program based on Jewish values, traditions, heritage and culture, and is committed to enriching the lives of all individuals and families in our community. Our eight Program Centers, Gershwind/Jacobson Sports & Fitness Center; Weinberger Jewish Family Center; Early Childhood and Ronald P. Cohen Parenting Center; Edward & Bernice Wenger Center for the Arts; Jack Nadel Social Services; Adult Center; Youth Services Center and Teen Services Center are here to provide the best possible services to our membership and the community at large. For more information, contact us at 300 Forest Drive, East Hills, NY, (516) 484-1545 or visit our web site at: www.sjjcc.org.

The Zucker Hillside Hospital, a 223 bed psychiatric facility based in Glen Oaks, NY, is internationally known for its pioneering work in mental illness clinical care, research and training. It has been ranked as one of the nation’s top 20 psychiatric hospitals by US News and World Report. Zucker Hillside provides a comprehensive array of diagnostic and treatment services for patients of all ages with problems ranging from attention deficit/hyperactivity, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia to phobias, anxiety and addictive disorder. Inpatient, day and partial hospital, as well as ambulatory care and rehabilitation services are available from a multidisciplinary team of experienced professionals.

Media Contact: Deanna Morton/516-829-5502 AFA: Carol Steinberg/866-AFA-8484