AFA Educating America Tour Conferences

Next year marks the 10th year AFA has toured the country to offer half-day programming that brings together medical, scientific, legal and financial experts to provide critical resources and hope to individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. No other organization is doing this type of free educational conference nationwide. Our goal for each Educating America Tour (EAT) is to empower with education and to ensure that no person faces Alzheimer’s alone.

“It started as a way to educate caregivers about the services of AFA and how we can provide support to those who don’t know where to turn,” says Stephanie Evans-Ariker, AFA’s external relations director. As the conferences have evolved, they are also about making connections that will last. “When we leave at the end of the day, we want people who attended to know who their local experts are. AFA is the connector. We are truly bringing together the caregivers with the professionals in their states. People often don’t know where to start. We give them the starting points to plan for the journey they are going on.”

The Educating America Tour was launched in 2017 as part of AFA’s 15th anniversary. The conferences are open to families, healthcare professionals, individuals living with a memory loss condition and anyone interested in learning more about Alzheimer’s, brain health and care partnering.

The conferences present three speakers — one from the medical profession to offer an overview of Alzheimer’s and dementia, a legal or financial expert to discuss the legal and financial implications of the disease, and a care partner “to bring some experiential expertise to the conference,” Evans-Ariker says. Topics presented cover a wide range, such as developments in the fight against Alzheimer’s, advance planning, building a long-term care team and home safety.

Conferences also include resource vendors, such as AFA member organizations, other agencies, and businesses in the host city, to connect attendees with information about local services. The EAT team works with state and municipal agencies such as offices on aging, aging and disability resource centers and academic institutions affiliated with our speakers or member networks.

Locations are chosen by where resources are lacking. Marketing is done through direct mail, social media and newspaper ads. Most conferences are standing-room-only and have grown every year since returning to the road after the pandemic.

When AFA’s team visited Charleston, WV, in October, Evans-Ariker said someone asked them why people were coming to them from New York City, telling them “no one ever comes here.” “That’s exactly why we’re there,” she says.

“Our friend was just recently diagnosed, so I came with my wife to learn more. The future is uncertain for our friend, but we want to help. Hopefully, we can learn to best support her. Thank you AFA for helping.”

–Joseph B., Charleston, WV