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Community Corner

Free Alzheimer's Screening & Vigil at The Watermark

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and The Watermark at East Hill are teaming up to host a National Commemorative Candle Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, November 17 at 11 a.m. in the auditorium of the retirement community located at 611 East Hill Road in Southbury.

 

The National Commemorative Candle Lighting is an annual event held each November in recognition of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. Local organizations and communities hold inspirational ceremonies on the same day, uniting individuals from coast to coast as they light “candles of care.”

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This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Denise Julian, Director of Health Services at The Watermark at East Hill. The ceremony will also feature music by resident Joan Sprung and a poetry reading by resident Retta Fagin. Additionally, there will be a reading of the National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month prayer along with the names of those honored or remembered with remarks offered by residents and guests. Refreshments will be provided following the ceremony.

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The Watermark at East Hill will also host free memory screenings on Tuesday, November 19 from 10:00 a.m. until noon. The screenings aim to promote early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses, and to encourage appropriate intervention.

 

“Our candle lighting ceremony and memory screening aim to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and to provide a resource for people who are looking for help or information,” said Michelle Bettigole, Executive Director at The Watermark at East Hill. “This disease often starts out slow and early detection can help pinpoint appropriate treatment, if necessary.”

 

The face-to-face screening is fast and easy, and takes 15 minutes or less. Proper diagnosis is critical because some conditions that affect memory, such as thyroid problems, are reversible. For irreversible illnesses, proper diagnosis enables individuals to obtain medical treatments and social services, as well as have input into legal and financial decisions regarding treatment that can improve their quality of life.

 

Both the candle lighting ceremony and memory screening are free of charge and open to the public, but space is limited. If you would like to attend either, please call The Watermark at East Hill at 203-262-6868.

 

For more information on the National Commemorative Candle Lighting, please visit www.candlelighting.org; for more information on the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, please visit www.alzfdn.org

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