The Vashon Social Service Network (VSSN) and the county’s Advisory Council on Aging and Disability Services will host a forum on Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia on Friday, Sept. 12.

The event at the Presbyterian church will include the screening of an award-winning film on Alzheimer’s disease, resource tables with information, and a talk by George Dicks, a mental health practitioner at Harborview Medical Center, who is considered an expert in geriatric issues.

Ava Apple, the director of the Vashon Senior Center, which is part of VSSN, said she expects the event will draw a crowd. The island has a large population of older people, she noted, with more residents per capita over 50 than any other place in King County. Many people don’t know a lot about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, Apple noted, and the information presented will be valuable, even for those not yet touched by either disease.

“The chances are it’s going to affect someone in your life, whether it’s your parents, one of your friends or someone in your family,” she said.

The Alzheimer’s Asso-ciation indicates that one in nine people over age 65 has Alzheimer’s disease.

The film, “The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer’s,” is a 2005 documentary that weaves together the history and biology of Alzheimer’s disease with the real-world experiences of patients and caregivers and current efforts to find a cure. The documentary features David Hyde Pierce, an actor who has advocated for Alzheimer’s awareness and research.

Dave Rogers, an islander and member of the Seattle King County Advisory Council on Aging and Disability Services, said he hopes the event will also raise awareness about the council and its work. The group, with about 25 volunteer members, advocates on behalf of older people and adults with disabilities in King County by advising agencies on services offered, helping decide how grant funds are spent, advocating in Olympia for needed programs, hosting educational events and more.

Rogers, who has been a member of the group for five years, said the council would like to have more of a presence in unincorporated King County and is hosting its first event on Vashon.

He noted that Dicks, of Harborview, is very knowledgeable and will answer islanders’ questions at the end of his presentation. Representatives from The Alzheimer’s Association, the state’s Senior Information and Assistance department and Seattle King County Aging and Disability Services will also be on hand at resource tables.

“People can participate how they feel comfortable,” he said.