Dementia is difficult to deal with for the person that has it, as well as, for the caregivers and the people who come in contact with them. The person with dementia can react negatively just being in a room that’s noisy or if there are bright flashing lights coming from a police car in their driveway.
There’s now a non-profit to help whole communities become more welcoming to people with dementia. It’s called Dementia Friendly America (dfamerica.org) and the first community in my state certified a “dementia friendly community” was in Fairfax, Virginia. There are now 4 other locations in the state that have earned the designation.
What the organization does is it helps a group draw up a plan to make its area supportive of people with dementia and their caregivers. Trained volunteers will hold education sessions for businesses and other community members. As an example, when a restaurant in the area has put 75% of its staff through the training, the restaurant receives a window sticker to let customers know it’s dementia friendly.
Since the number of people suffering from dementia will only grow has the baby boomers get it, this is a great way to help these people feel safe and protected when they are out in the community.
(Reported AARP BULLETIN, Real Possibilities September 2019)
There’s now a non-profit to help whole communities become more welcoming to people with dementia. It’s called Dementia Friendly America (dfamerica.org) and the first community in my state certified a “dementia friendly community” was in Fairfax, Virginia. There are now 4 other locations in the state that have earned the designation.
What the organization does is it helps a group draw up a plan to make its area supportive of people with dementia and their caregivers. Trained volunteers will hold education sessions for businesses and other community members. As an example, when a restaurant in the area has put 75% of its staff through the training, the restaurant receives a window sticker to let customers know it’s dementia friendly.
Since the number of people suffering from dementia will only grow has the baby boomers get it, this is a great way to help these people feel safe and protected when they are out in the community.
(Reported AARP BULLETIN, Real Possibilities September 2019)
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