Dementia Conference
<bt>"All Aboard: Transitions through Trying Times with Dementia," the 17th annual conference sponsored by the Northern Virginia Respite Care Consortium will be held Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Goodwin House West in Falls Church.
Speakers include Sandra Markwood, Beth Spencer, JoAnne Crantz, Lin Noyes and Mary Lou Rivera. Fees are $25 for family caregivers and $35 for professional and paid caregivers. For more information or to register, call Alzheimer's Association, National Capital Area 1-866-259-0042.
<sh>Parkinson Panel
<bt>The Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area will feature a panel discussion, "Caregivers and Carepartners," Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 7-9 p.m., at the Epiphany Byzantine Church, 3410 Woodburn Road in Annandale.
The event is open to the public, especially Parkinson's patients, their families an friends. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call the foundation at 703-891-0821.
<sh>Flu Vaccination Recommendation
<bt>The Virginia Department of Health is advising everyone, especially those people who are at risk of developing complications from influenza, to get the flu vaccine. The vaccine is available from most physicians, local health departments and many local pharmacies.
Influenza, also called the flu, can cause fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills and muscle aches. Unlike the common cold, the flu causes severe illness and can be life threatening. Complications from the flu can lead to pneumonia and other serious illnesses. More people die from complications from the flu than from any other vaccine-preventable disease.
People at increased risk include those 50 years of age or older; children 6-23 months old; residents of nursing homes; people with chronic cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, including asthma; people with chronic metabolic diseases, kidney dysfunction, blood disorders or immune system problems; children and adolescents who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy; and women who are more than three months pregnant during the flu season.
The best time to receive influenza vaccine is during October and November; however vaccination in December, or even later, can still prevent the flu. January and February are typically peak flu months in Virginia, but increased flu activity can last into March. Protection develops about two weeks after vaccination and may last up to a year. Most people need only one dose of vaccine to prevent influenza. However, children under 9 years of age getting flu vaccine for the first time will need a booster dose one month after their first flu shot.
For more information, log onto the Virginia Department of Health’s Web site at http://www.vdh.state.va.us.