Alzheimer’s Association hosts Town Hall in El Centro to expand local outreach
Adrik Vargas
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – The Alzheimer’s Association held a town hall in El Centro to provide information and support to Imperial Valley families impacted by the disease.
Panelists shared the ten warning signs of Alzheimer’s and highlighted its greater impact on Latino communities, who are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than white Americans.
Organizers also called for more local volunteers to help expand outreach in a region with one of the highest rates of Alzheimer’s in the U.S.
“Imperial County has the 9th highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s in the country, so we know how important it is for the families of Imperial County to get the resources,” said Janet Hamada-Kelley, the association’s executive director.
The association says the event is part of a broader effort to reach underserved communities.
“Alzheimer’s has historically been thought of as an old person’s disease, but actually a lot of individuals as young as their 30’s or 40’s are getting diagnosed,” Hamada-Kelley said.
She added that increased research and FDA-approved blood tests are helping doctors diagnose the disease earlier.
The event was hosted at DayOut Adult Day Health Care.
“We wanted to actually welcome them into our building so they can feel more of the essence of what DayOut Adult Day Health Care is,” said Maribelle Mendez with DayOut.
Hamada-Kelley said the association will return later this year: “We’ll be back in town in October for our resource fair and Walk to End Alzheimer’s.”