2005 Press Releases
“Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia” Topic of Rome Memorial Hospital’s October Health Night Lecture ROME – According to a national survey, approximately 19 million Americans have a family member with Alzheimer’s and 37 million know someone with the disease. During Rome Memorial Hospital’s Thursday, October 6 Health Night lecture, Senior Behavioral Health Unit (SBHU) Community Education Manager Laura Martino, RN, CTRS, will address this topic with a lecture entitled, “Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia.” The lecture will take place at 7 p.m. in the hospital’s classroom. “During the lecture, I will provide an overview of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and give practical approaches on what steps can be taken to live with the disease, including where to go for assistance if needed,” said Martino. “Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can create frustration for both its victim and his or her family. There are tools to help families work through these struggles,” she added. SBHU Medical Director Florica Ochotorena, M.D. will lead the question and answer period after the lecture. According to statistics, approximately 3 percent of men and women ages 65 to 74 have Alzheimer’s and nearly half of those age 85 and older may have the disease. Approximately 4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. Symptoms typically begin with difficulty remembering new information, then progress to greater and greater disruption in memory, reasoning, judgment, and personality. Martino is a graduate of York College of Pennsylvania where she earned her B.S. degree in Recreation Therapy. She is also a graduate of the St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing. She joined the SBHU staff in 2001 and became community education manager in 2005. Dr. Ochotorena, who is board certified as a geriatric and general psychiatrist, graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine & Surgery. She became the medical director for the SBHU in 2004 from Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens Village, New York. Rome Memorial Hospital’s 11-bed SBHU is a secure therapeutic environment that provides behavioral health care for seniors who have depression, anxiety, dementia and other acute illnesses. The SBHU can take admissions seven days a week, 24 hours a day to meet the needs of seniors in crisis. For more information, please call 338-7399. Health Night is a free monthly lecture series. No advance registration is required. Refreshments will be served. | 