The Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will present a conference on Saturday, Feb. 22, focusing on the challenges faced by members of the Black community when facing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. “Empowered Aging in the Black Community” will take place from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Frank E. Merriweather Library, 1324 Jefferson Ave., Buffalo. People also can participate via Zoom.
Claudine Ewing, news anchor for WGRZ-TV Channel 2, will serve as emcee. The conference will feature guest speakers and a panel discussion that will assist participants in learning more about Alzheimer’s and dementia and the support available to caregivers in Western New York.
“We know that older Black Americans are twice as likely as older white Americans to develop Alzheimer’s disease or dementia,” says Andrea Koch, director of community engagement for the WNY Chapter. “We want to ensure that members of Buffalo’s Black community have access to information about brain health and strategies for risk reduction. We also want those currently caring for a loved one with cognitive impairment to have the knowledge and support they need to provide the best care for their loved ones.”
Guest speakers will address the unique challenges faced by communities of color when caring for family members with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Speakers include Pastor George Nicholas, chief executive officer for the Buffalo Center for Health Equity, and Ariel Clay, ANP-BC, director of palliative care for Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo.
A panel discussion featuring Nicholas, Clay, and Carleara Weiss, PhD, MS, RN, assistant professor for UB’s School of Nursing, along with local caregivers, will address issues of concern to the community.
Robin E. Hodges, a member of the WNY Chapter’s Board of Directors and chief operations and impact officer for the African American Veterans Monument in Buffalo, knows the value of Alzheimer’s education and caregiver support.
“My journey as a caregiver for my mother, who bravely battled Alzheimer’s, and as a daughter who watched my father, a WWII Navy Veteran, lose our family home due to the financial burden of care, has shaped my commitment to advocacy,” Hodges says. “As a daughter, a veteran, and an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association, I am dedicated to raising awareness about the unique challenges that African Americans face with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.
“While our community confronts a higher risk, we also exhibit remarkable resilience and strength,” she says. “Join us at the Empowered Aging in the Black Community Conference to learn, share and collaborate for a future where every voice is heard and no family faces this journey alone.”
A free caregiver resource fair will offer the opportunity to learn more about participating organizations, including the Erie County Department of Senior Services, Community Health Center of Buffalo, Lighthouse Free Medical Clinic, the Center for Elder Law & Justice, and the Matt Urban Human Services Center. UB School of Nursing students will be on hand offering blood pressure tests – heart health being a key factor in Alzheimer’s risk reduction – and sharing information about local Alzheimer’s and dementia research.
Registration is required and can be done online at bit.ly/AlzBlackAging25 or by calling 800-272-3900. The conference is supported in part by grants from the New York State Department of Health.
