Alzheimer’s Association To Hold Free Caregiver Conference at Otesaga

COOPERSTOWN—The Alzheimer’s Association Northeastern New York Chapter will host a free Caregiver Conference on Tuesday, September 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown. This event aims to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and highlight the challenges faced by dementia caregivers. Family members and friends caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s are invited to attend and hear from local experts, ask caregiving questions, and connect with others for support. The conference will feature presentations covering key topics relevant to caregiving including:

• navigating the caregiving role
• care throughout the course of illness, presented by Helios Care out of Oneonta
• legal and financial literacy, presented by Coutlee Law out of Fly Creek
• the latest in dementia research

“Many dementia caregivers refer to their journey as the ‘long goodbye,’ highlighting the ongoing and gradual loss of a loved one as the disease progresses,” Andrew DeLollo, senior director of programs for the Alzheimer’s Association Northeastern New York Chapter, said in a recent press release.

“While every caregiving journey is different, our message is the same: you are not alone,” DeLollo continued. “We are here to support caregivers at every stage of the disease. Knowledge is a powerful tool that can help make any situation easier to navigate. This conference aims not only to educate caregivers but also connect them with vital resources right in our community.”

According to the “2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures” report, the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease now tops more than 7 million for the first time. In New York, 12.7 percent of adults over 65 are living with Alzheimer’s. As the size of the U.S. population age 65 and older continues to grow, so too will the number and proportion of Americans with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, officials warned.

As the disease prevalence number rises, the burden of caregiving often falls on family and friends. More than 60 percent of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers are women. More specifically, over one-third of dementia caregivers are daughters, many in the sandwich-generation. In New York, it is reported that there are 656,000 unpaid caregivers. Of those caregivers, nearly 62 percent say they have a chronic health condition and more than 18 percent self-report as struggling with depression.

“By learning how to manage the challenges that accompany Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia, caregivers can develop better coping mechanisms for themselves, as well as improve the overall quality of care they provide,” officials said. To register for this free event, visit alz.org/crf or call (518) 675-7214.