On Thursday, the Alzheimer’s Association’s Rochester & Finger Lakes Chapter will host its 10th annual Dr. Lemuel & Gloria Rogers Health Symposium. The free event will be held virtually from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The health symposium will raise awareness of dementia concerns among the Black community and educate participants about resources available in the Finger Lakes region for both individuals living with the disease and their families and caregivers.
“Alzheimer’s disease impacts so many in our community,” said Chapter Executive Director Teresa Galbier. “That is why we are relentless in our commitment to offering programs like our annual health symposium to raise awareness and offer education about the disease and get one day closer to a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.”
The symposium will address racial disparities in care, support and treatment, as well as examine barriers to participation in dementia research. Experts will discuss tactics to lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease through healthy living and will confront the challenges of caregiving during the pandemic.
Findings from two national surveys appearing in the Alzheimer’s Association 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report reveal that discrimination is a barrier to Alzheimer’s and dementia care. More than one-third of Black Americans and nearly one-fifth of Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans believe discrimination would be a barrier to receiving Alzheimer’s care. In addition, half or more of non-White caregivers say they have experienced discrimination when navigating health care settings for their care recipient.
Half of Black Americans report they’ve experienced discrimination when seeking health care; more than 4 in 10 Native Americans and one-third of Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans likewise report having experienced health care discrimination.
“Despite ongoing efforts to address health and health care disparities in Alzheimer’s and dementia care, survey results show there is still a lot of work to be done,” said Carl Hill, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for the national Alzheimer’s Association. “Clearly, discrimination, lack of diversity among health care professionals and mistrust in medical research create significant barriers to care and demand the country’s full attention.”
Hill will give the keynote presentation at Thursday’s event. Prior to joining the association’s Chicago-based national office, he served as director of the Office of Special Populations at the National Institutes on Aging. During his 15 years with the NIA, Hill facilitated studies focused on health disparities and supported initiatives to enhance research targeting underrepresented groups.
Community educator volunteer Stanita Jackson will deliver “Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body.” Jackson earned her doctorate in public health with primary research focused on Alzheimer’s in African Americans, minority health disparities and nutritional health and wellness.
The Alzheimer’s Association’s annual symposium honors Lemuel and Gloria Rogers, a well-respected couple and community leaders who ultimately lost their battles with the disease.
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