Licensed Social Workers Now Available Saturdays

/EINPresswire.com/ -- NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - April 13, 2016) - The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) is expanding its national toll-free helpline to include Saturday hours so that it can help more caregivers get vital information, support and counsel. Beginning May 7, AFA's national toll-free helpline, 866-232-8484, which is staffed by licensed social workers, trained specifically in dementia care, will be open Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT, in addition to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday.

"As any caregiver will tell you, caregiving is not a 9-5, Monday-Friday job, and sometimes, the times you really need an empathetic ear fall well after 'normal business hours,'" said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA's president and chief executive officer. "At AFA, we strive to help more people each day than we did the day before. Expanding the hours of our national toll-free helpline is just one way that we let caregivers know that we are here for them; they don't have to go it alone."

Through its national toll-free helpline, AFA's licensed social workers field calls from family and professional caregivers alike, responding to questions, offering referrals to local resources and offering tips and strategies to help navigate the caregiving landscape. No question is too small; no concern insignificant. AFA's licensed social workers are also available via Skype, live chat, and e-mail. 

During the past two years, the helpline has received more than 15,000 calls from people who don't know where else to turn for information. Questions run the gamut from how to get a parent into a nursing home, or where to find support groups, to more challenging subjects, such as aggression and intimacy. To reach AFA's national toll-free helpline, call 866-232-8484 or e-mail info@alzfdn.org.

About Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA):

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America is a non-profit founded to fill the gap that existed on a national level assuring quality of care and excellence in service to individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses, and to their caregivers and families. AFA unites more than 2,400 member organizations from coast-to-coast that are dedicated to meeting the educational, social, emotional and practical needs of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their families. Under AFA's umbrella, these organizations collaborate on education, resources, best practices and advocacy -- all resulting in better care for people affected by the disease. AFA's services include a national, toll-free helpline staffed by licensed social workers, educational materials, professional training, community outreach, free quarterly caregiver magazine, research funding, public advocacy and programmatic services. For more information about AFA, call 866-232-8484, visit http://www.alzfdn.org, follow us on Twitter or connect with us on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Contact information
Sandy Silverstein
Media Relations Manager
Alzheimer's Foundation of America
866-232-8484 x104 
ssilverstein@alzfdn.org

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