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Shorewood, WI
Shorewood, WI’s Dementia Awareness Work Group is a long-term effort that recently joined the DFA network of communities. Through a volunteer-led Dementia Awareness Work Group formed in 2014, the Village of Shorewood, WI is focusing on promoting awareness of dementia and its prevalence; educating the community on topics of interest related to dementia; and linking caregivers with available resources. In addition, the Work Group decided to hold monthly volunteer-led memory cafés and a monthly caregiver support group, called Coffee & Conversations for Caregivers, after identifying the need for additional socialization opportunities and support for caregivers. In addition to these monthly events, Shorewood’s Dementia Awareness Work Group has conducted outreach for local congregations and banks. The Work Group remains committed to ensuring that Shorewood’s older adults, including those living with dementia, have the opportunity to remain in and contribute to the life of the community.
Highland Park, IL
The goal of the City of Highland Park’s Dementia Friendly Initiative is to decrease stigma and reduce isolation by creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment and by supporting those living with dementia. Through its Dementia Friendly Program, the city works to create cross-sector connections across sectors, to identify dementia-friendly practices and to build a dementia-friendly community by raising awareness, providing education and encouraging community engagement. The initiative is supported by the City of Highland Park, Highland Park Library and Sunrise Senior Living in Highland Park.
Orland Park, IL
Dementia Friendly Orland Park seeks to raise awareness, provide community resources and offer community education through three initiatives. First, Dementia Friendly Orland Park aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma and offer resources by encouraging families to attend the Orland Fire Protection District’s free dementia education classes. The second initiative involves collaboration with local businesses and organizations—including Chamber of Commerce, churches, police departments, the Orland Park library, senior centers, home health, hospice, home care agencies, and Illinois State Senators and State Representatives—by offering dementia-friendly training. A third activity is promoting the Premise Alert Program to register those living with dementia with the local 911 dispatch at the Orland Fire Protection District.
Valdosta, GA
Valdosta, GA is committed to enhancing its dementia friendliness and has established a community action team with leaders from various sectors of the community, including banking, local and state government, estate planning, faith communities, restaurants, legal services, libraries, health care practitioners, caregivers, neighbors, as well as Valdosta’s mayor. Dementia Friendly Valdosta is working on dementia education and empowerment and is establishing subcommittees to implement specific goals such as a wandering alert system, memory cafés, Virtual Dementia Tours, community education presentations and dementia-friendly restaurants.
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