Act Now Foundation: Alzheimer’s Awareness

Alzheimer’s Resource Center of NJ

Building Awareness One Mind at a Time

http://www.actnowfoundation.org

A non-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization

What is Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease and the most common form of dementia. It causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.

It is not a normal part of aging.

Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60% to 80% of dementia cases. But Alzheimer’s is not just a disease of old age. Up to 5% of people with the disease have early onset Alzheimer’s (also known as younger-onset) which often appears when someone is in their 40’s or 50’s.

Alzheimer’s disease steals your memories, robs you of your relationships, takes away your ability to take care of yourself and makes even the familiar seem odd and scary.

Alzheimer’s disease touches every community, yet some groups including Hispanics, African-Americans and women, are at greater risk. The lack of equity, both social and environmental, impacts the health and well-being of all and creates health disparities. Act Now Foundation seeks to eliminate or reduce health disparities and the impact of Alzheimer’s disease by practicing inclusiveness and equity in engaging communities to build supportive, Alzheimer’s-friendly environments.

What We Do:

Act Now Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging underserved communities in a grassroots campaign to raise awareness and education about Alzheimer’s disease, prevention and early detection. By mobilizing public and private resources in a campaign to fight Alzheimer’s and by enlisting underserved communities in that campaign, we can change the course of Alzheimer’s disease for underserved minorities and their families, who are at greater risk.

The Foundation’s name , “ACT” stands for Awareness, Cure and Treatment of Alzheimer’s.

How We Do It:

Act Now recently celebrated the Grand Opening of the first Alzheimer’s Resource Center in Northern NJ. The Center offers communities a less-formal, more supportive environment for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, to ensure that people receive a timely diagnosis and offer support, education and assistance to help families, caregivers and professionals identify and access proper care and support services.

Our Programs:

The Foundation’s emphasis is to create an Alzheimer’s capable community. By raising awareness, educating our urban neighborhoods and supporting individuals living with Alzheimer’s, we are building a stronger, more informed community. Our programs, available in both Spanish and English, help us reach that goal.

*”The Alzheimer’s Care Project”-A step by step guide from diagnosis to end of life.

*Memory Screenings because early diagnosis is key to creating a better treatment plan.

*Educational Workshops-Designed to ensure that caregivers are well trained to provide appropriate, competent and sensitive care and support.

*Support Groups for caregivers and seniors with early stage dementia.

*Resources for families to help guide and improve the physical, emotional and financial impacts of Alzheimer’s disease.

It may be hard to know the difference between a typical age-related change and the first sign of Alzheimer’s.

Ask yourself: “Is this something new?” “Is my memory loss affecting my daily life?”

Contact Us

Act Now Foundation

Alzheimer’s Resource Center of NJ

830 Bergen Avenue, Street 8A

Jersey City, NJ  07306

(201) 721-6721

Visit us at:

http://www.actnowfoundation.org

facebook.com/actnowfoundation

twitter@ActNow4Alz

*Disclaimer: This information was taken directly from the Act Now Foundation pamphlet. I have never used the service so I have no opinion on it either yes or no to how it works. Please call or email the Foundation for more information.