About AD & The AFA

About Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is a progressive, degenerative disorder. It attacks the brain’s nerve cells, resulting in loss of memory, executive function, thinking and language skills. In the U.S., 5.2 million people are living with AD, and it has become the sixth leading cause of death. These numbers are expected to increase as the baby boomer generation ages.

About the AFA
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is a leading national nonprofit organization whose mission is “to provide optimal care and services to individuals confronting dementia, and to their caregivers and families– through member organizations dedicated to improving quality of life.”

With a focus on “Caring for the Nation,” AFA unites more than 1,200 member organizations from coast-to-coast that are dedicated to meeting the educational, social, emotional and practical needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses, and their families. Under AFA’s umbrella, these organizations collaborate on education, resources, program design and implementation, fundraising campaigns, and advocacy– all resulting in better care for those affected by the disease.

AFA believes that by raising awareness of the disease and educating healthcare professionals and the public at large, it will:

• Help remove the stigma of the disease
• Promote early detection and proper treatment
• Prompt greater utilization of community resources
• Ultimately improve quality of life

AFA offers a wide range of programs and services to the public and healthcare professionals, including a toll-free hot line (866.AFA.8484) with counseling by licensed social workers, a free caregiver magazine– care ADvantage, educational conferences and materials, an AFA Teens division, training for healthcare professionals, and national standards of excellence for dementia settings, as well as national initiatives such as its signature National Memory Screening Day and the AFA Quilt to Remember. Its network of nine Web sites can be accessed via its main site, www.alzfdn.org.