Guttenberg senior citizens had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives from the Act Now Foundation to participate in memory screenings and talk about important health issues on Wednesday, Mar. 6, 2019.
 
President Kristine Allen and Executive Director Cary Lopez were both on hand to greet residents and distribute information and materials about age-related topics. Chief among those topics was memory loss: how to determine if it is a normal facet of aging or a symptom of a more serious problem.
 
It’s not uncommon for individuals over age 60 to experience some memory loss. This can be normal or it may signal the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s. Early diagnosis is key to treatment and support.
 
Interviews and assessments were conducted inside the Guttenberg senior building with numerous local residents, focusing not only on cognitive abilities but on nutrition, activities of daily living, weight loss, depression, etc. An evaluation was provided on the spot, along with suggestions for what to do next.
 
Also participating in the event were representatives from WellCare. Medicare Benefit Consultant Zul Echandy and Marketing Outreach Supervisor Luz Ramirez visited the senior building to share information on health insurance through the Medicare Advantage program for seniors and individuals with disabilities, including vision, dental, and hearing benefits, prescriptions and over-the-counter meds, gym memberships, and more.
 
This was the first time either organization had brought their services to the Guttenberg senior building, with Echandy noting that the Spanish-speaking community was especially underserved due to the language barrier
 
For more information about Act Now and brain health visit www.actnowfoundation.org, or go to the actnowfoundation Facebook page. For more information on WellCare visit www.wellcarerep.com/266657.