Vermont Business Magazine The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Educational Conference for Burlington-area residents on Wednesday, July 15 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm ET at the Burlington Harbor Hotel (25 Cherry Street, Burlington). The free conference, part of AFA’s National Educating Across America Tour, is open to everyone and will allow participants to learn from experts in the field of Alzheimer’s disease, brain health, caregiving, and advance planning. Register by visiting www.alzfdn.org/tour. Advance registration is highly recommended.
“Knowledge is a useful and powerful tool that can help make any situation easier to navigate, especially something as challenging as caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President & CEO. “Connecting families with useful, practical information and support that can help them now and be better prepared for the future is what this conference is all about. Whether Alzheimer’s is affecting your family, you are a caregiver or just want to learn more about brain health, we invite you to join us on July 15.”
Sessions during the AFA conference will include:
Screening Tests for the Diagnosis of Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment –There are many benefits to early detection of dementia and mild cognitive impairment, including accessing treatment sooner and being able to participate in decisions about your long-term care planning. Dr. Amelia Gennari will provide an overview of the tests healthcare providers use to identify memory and thinking problems, including mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. She will explain how these screening tools work, what they can and cannot tell us, and how they help guide further evaluation and care. Attendees will learn about the importance of early recognition of cognitive changes and how screening can support patients and families in planning for the future.
Dr. Gennari is a board-certified geriatrician and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont’s (UVM) Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont. She leads the Division of Geriatrics Ambulatory section and recently served as the Interim Chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine throughout the UVM Health Network.
Recognizing Triggers and Practical Strategies to Support Family Caregivers –Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, CDCn will provide an overview of common behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and the underlying triggers that often contribute to daily caregiving challenges. She will discuss behaviors such as wandering, resistance to care, repetitive questions, agitation, and difficulties with activities like dressing or bathing. She will also explain how unmet needs, communication changes, and environmental factors can influence these behaviors, while providing practical, person-centered strategies to reduce distress and improve daily interactions.
Ms. Wiley is an Occupational Therapist and founder of The Dementia Collaborative, where she provides evidence-based training, education, and consultation to clinicians and care partners worldwide.
Common Financial Mistakes Families Make After a Dementia Diagnosis– Elder law attorney Juliana E. Hoyt will discuss common mistakes families make when managing finances, planning for future care, and handling legal decisions after a dementia diagnosis. Attendees will learn practical steps to help protect assets, avoid costly errors, and prepare for the future while supporting their loved one’s needs and wishes.
Ms. Hoyt is the founder and principal of Jarrett | Hoyt in South Burlington, Vermont. In addition to her legal work, Ms. Hoyt frequently presents educational workshops and continuing legal education programs on estate planning, mediation, negotiation, and elder law topics.
For more information or to register for the free July 15 conference in Burlington, visit www.alzfdn.org/tour. Those who cannot participate in the conference or have immediate questions about Alzheimer’s disease can connect with licensed social workers seven days a week through AFA’s Helpline by calling 866-232-8484, texting 646-586-5283, or web chatting at www.alzfdn.org by clicking the blue and white chat icon in the right-hand corner of the page. The web chat and text message features are available in more than 90 languages.
About Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA)
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias nationwide and to fund research for better treatment and a cure. Its services include a National Toll-Free Helpline (866-232-8484) staffed entirely by licensed social workers, caregiver support groups, educational programs and publications for caregivers, dementia-care training for healthcare professionals, the National Memory Screening Program, and more. For more information about AFA, call 866-232-8484, visit www.alzfdn.org, or connect with us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, or LinkedIn. AFA holds Charity Navigator’s top 4-star rating.
June 8, 2026- Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
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