SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Regional West Medical Center will offer free memory screenings on Tuesday, November 13, in celebration of National Memory Screening Day. The memory screenings will be held in the Scotts Bluff Rooms at Regional West from 1 to 5 p.m. The screenings are available to anyone who would like to have their memory evaluated. No appointment is necessary.

National Memory Screening Day is an annual initiative of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. It is designed to promote proper detection of Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses, and wellness education.

"Memory screenings are a valuable tool both for establishing a baseline of one's memory capability and for evaluating those who are concerned about memory loss," said Tami Bokelman, MSW, program director of the acute rehabilitation unit.

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible disorder of the brain caused by the death or permanent dysfunction of brain cells. Individuals affected by this disease are robbed of their memory and, eventually, overall mental and physical function. It is not a normal part of the aging process.

Although a memory screening is not used to diagnose any illness and does not take the place of a complete evaluation by a qualified physician, it is the first step toward finding out if you or a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, or other condition that is causing memory loss.

Regional West plans to offer these free memory screenings annually in November. For more information, please call (308) 630-1070.

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,400 employees, provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, Regional West offers care that spans more than 40 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and is one of only three Level II Trauma Centers in the state of Nebraska.