Alzheimer’s Purple Sunday Virtual Kickoff Nov. 9th

The Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter will hold a Virtual Purple Sunday Kickoff event at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, via Zoom. This kickoff is designed to introduce people unfamiliar to Purple Sunday to the program and increase general awareness of Alzheimer’s and other dementia in the African American and Hispanic communities through houses of worship. While anyone is welcome to attend this free webinar, organizers would particularly like to invite local faith leaders and their spouses, deacons, stewards and health ministry members.

The program will feature two guest speakers, starting with Naa-Solo Tettey, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Public Health at William Patterson University, who will speak on “Matters of the Heart: Tips for Caregiver Wellness.” Tettey is the creator and director of HeartSmarts, which aims to improve health disparities related to heart disease, diabetes, obesity and hypertension in the African American community. An expert in faith-based health education,she holds a doctorate in health and behavior studies from Teachers College, Columbia University, a master of public health degree from the University of Connecticut and an MBA in health care administration from the State University of New York. She is also a master certified health education specialist certified in public health and an American College of Sports Medicine certified wellness coach.

Meg Boyce
Meg Boyce

“I plan to cover the impact of stress on the health of caregivers, the connection between stress, brain health and heart health and provide tips for managing stress and overall health,” Tettey said.“Stress is considered a part of life. However, caregivers, who are usually under a great deal of stress, may not understand or consider how stress can negatively impact their heart and brain health. I am excited to participate in Purple Sunday to provide education, resources and tools to empower caregivers to also focus on their health during challenging times.”

Tettey will be followed by Meg Boyce, Research Champion and Vice President of Programs and Services for the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter, who will give an update on the latest in dementia research.Meg Boyce received a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University in 1995 and worked in long-term care before joining the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter as program director in 2000, becoming vice president of programs and services in 2013. In this role, she oversees the programs and services the chapter offers to meet the needs of Hudson Valley community.

“There are a lot of exciting breakthroughs happening in dementia research right now, and I look forward to sharing some of the findings with everyone who tunes into our Purple Sunday Kickoff,” said Boyce. As a Research Champion for the Alzheimer’s Association, Boyce is regularly updated on scientific advances in research into Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. “It is important to us as an organization to make sure we get the word out about Alzheimer’s and dementia in communities of color, and Purple Sunday, by reaching out to those communities through their houses of worship, is one of the best ways we do it. I look forward to being a part of this event.”

To register for the event, email Nicolette Pezzullo at npezzullo@alz.org, call the Alzheimer’s Association at 800.272.3900.

The Purple Sunday Kickoff is sponsored by AKA Sorority, Iota Alpha Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, NAACP of Newburgh and Highland Falls and the Orange County Office for the Aging. It is also supported in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Health.

About Purple Sunday
Purple Sunday is a community event created by the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter to promote awareness of Alzheimer’s disease in the Black and Latinx communities through houses of worship.By hosting a Purple Sunday event, churches can help their congregations learn more about the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, risk factors, warning signs, the importance of an early diagnosis, the diagnostic process and a variety of helpful programs offered by the Alzheimer’s Association.

About the Hudson Valley Chapter
The Hudson Valley Chapter serves families living with dementia in seven counties in New York including Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. To learn more about programs and services offered locally, visit alz.org/hudsonvalley.
About the Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection and maximizing quality care and support.Its vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Visit www.alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

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