The City of West Hollywood will host “Matters of the Mind – A Community Forum on Understanding and Responding to Alzheimer’s and Other Related Dementias” on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon at the City Council Chambers, located at 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. south of Santa Monica.
“As the aging population increases, the rates of Americans with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will grow,” said Councilmember Lindsey Horvath. “It’s important that we take opportunities to learn about what this means for our older adults and seniors who are aging in place and how we can respond more effectively in supporting their needs.”
The event, which is presented in conjunction with Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles and Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles, will begin with a clinical presentation by Linda M. Ercoli, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist specialist with the UCLA Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior titled “Dementia: What is It and How is It Diagnosed?, “followed by a caregiver story with Lisa Bricker.
The forum will conclude with a panel discussion moderated by Val Zavala of KCET’s “SoCal Connected.”
The panel will include:
— Cathy Ladd, MSW, vice president, programs, Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles;
— Sheila Moore, MSG, LCSW, senior director of comprehensive older adult services, Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles; and
— Ana Avdalyan, program manager, Aging and Adult Services Branch – Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services.
The forum is free to attend; however, reservations are required and can be made online, or by contacting Corey Roskin, the City of West Hollywood’s social services specialist, at (323) 848-6403 or at croskin@weho.org.
The City of West Hollywood provides an array of services for its senior community members. Approximately 15% of the City’s population is 65 or older compared with 11% in Los Angeles County. The city has a long history of providing services and programs for seniors. In a 2013 survey of the community in West Hollywood, 86% of seniors reported that their quality of life is excellent or good.
In 2017, West Hollywood City Hall staff members and West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station personnel began participation in the Alzheimer’s Association specialized training course “Approaching Alzheimer’s: First Responder Training,” which prepares responders to respond appropriately in situations that involve people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
In 2016, the City of West Hollywood launched its “Aging in Place” five-year strategic plan to improve the quality of life and well-being of older adults in the City. The Aging in Place plan is designed with a community-based approach to wellness that embraces a vision for older adults to remain in their homes as they age, supported by a continuum of services.
Additional information about senior services in the City of West Hollywood, is available online. For additional information about the City of West Hollywood’s Aging in Place Strategic Plan, visit www.wehoaging.org.
