Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society Holds Virtual Fall Program on Alzheimer’s

Over 65 internists, family practitioners, geriatricians, pharmacists, nurses, nursing home administrators, and social workers attended the event to hear from distinguished author Jason Karlawish, MD, who presented "The Problem of Alzheimer's: How It Became a Crisis and What We Need to Do About It."

During his presentation, Dr. Karlawish reviewed the history of Alzheimer's beginning with the start of the Alzheimer's Association in 1980 and proceeding to the present. He emphasized the crisis based on the numbers: 6 million Americans are directly affected by the disease, plus untold numbers of caregivers and family members. He also reviewed the healthcare systems' failures and potential solutions in helping to provide a better quality of life for all individuals with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. JHF Medical Consultant Judith Black, MD, MHA, secretary/treasurer of PGS-WD, and Neil Resnick, MD, Thomas Detre professor and chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology and associate director of the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services at the University of Pittsburgh, facilitated a question-and-answer session with the virtual audience.

In conjunction with the program, Dr. Black also led the PGS-WD's annual fall business meeting. As part of this update, the Dementia Friends Pennsylvania program, coordinated by JHF, was highlighted. More than 7,200 Pennsylvanians have become Dementia Friends, changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia.