Georgetown, DE (Nov. 8, 2013): More than five million Americans, and an estimated 26,000 people living right here in Delaware, struggle each day to hold on to their pasts while still living productive lives. Alzheimer’s disease threatens to rob them of a lifetime of memories and put a strain on loved ones who will likely watch their mothers, fathers, husbands and wives slowly slip away.

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, and the Sussex County Advisory Committee on Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities will host guest speakers at its next meeting to discuss Delaware’s plan for addressing the disorder and how families and caregivers can better support their loved ones suffering from the disease.

The meeting begins at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 18, at Heritage at Milford Senior Living, 500 S. DuPont Highway, in Milford. Lisa Bond, deputy director of the Delaware Division of Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, and Katie Macklin, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter, will present and discuss the state’s plan on addressing Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, is a progressive brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and behavior. Individuals with Alzheimer's eventually lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment.

Also at the Nov. 18 meeting, the Advisory Committee will present the results of its recent LIVE! Conference, which attracted nearly 300 participants for discussions on health care and wellness.

The Sussex County Advisory Committee on Aging & Adults with Physical Disabilities is an 11-member panel established by the Sussex County Council to be an advocate for programs and policies that benefit older and disabled residents. The committee meets every other month, in January, March, May, July, September and November. All meetings are open to the public. 

The Advisory Committee’s mission is to increase dialogue, make recommendations to Sussex County Council, and to give support, assistance and advice on significant issues and programs that may affect the lives of the county’s aging and adults with physical disabilities populations.

For more information, visit the Advisory Committee’s page at sussexcountyde.gov/boards-committees.

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