The initial meeting of the 2013 Gallia County Family Forum, on Understanding and Dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease or another Dementia, will be held on Tuesday, March 26, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., in the Thaler Building, 2881 Ohio 160, Gallipolis, Ohio, across from Holzer Medical Center. This will be the first of a series of six meetings, held throughout 2013, on an every other month basis. Following the March meeting, the Forum will be scheduled in May, July, September, November and January 2014.

These Family Forum meetings will replace the former Gallia County Alzheimer’s Dementia Family Caregiver’s Support Group, which has been meeting on the third Thursday of every month in the Education Center Conference Room at Holzer Medical Center. This series of six programs, throughout the year, will provide an opportunity for families and caregivers to learn and ask questions about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, while receiving support from others in similar situations.

The program is free of charge and no registration is required. The Forum is open to the public, and caregivers are particularly urged to attend. In May, the meeting will be on Communication; July, Dealing with Behavioral Challenges; September, Caregiver/Family Stress and Grief; November, Safety Considerations; and January, Activities and Interaction.

For additional information, contact Melissa Dever, BSW, LSW, Southeastern Ohio Branch Program Manager of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Cincinnati Chapter, at 740-710-1821.