Winners of the “Living Well with Dementia in the Community” Photo Contest


We are excited to announce the winners of Dementia Friendly America’s Living Well with Dementia in the Community Photo Contest. We received many submissions showcasing the diversity of support found within community for people living with dementia and their care partners. The Grand-Prize winning photo was taken by Greenwood Senior Center and shows a woman’s artwork and message of hope. The first runner up was Penn Memory Center’s artfully framed photograph of intergenerational guests participating in a drum circle. The second runner-up was Vincent Zappacosta’s image “Singing with Mama in the garden” which beautifully captured a lighter moment of caregiving. The photos can be viewed on the Dementia Friendly America home page banner.

DFA Featured in Home for Holidays Campaign 

The Eldercare Locator and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) highlighted dementia in the 2017 Home for the Holidays campaign with the publication of Living Well With Dementia in the Community: Resources and Support, a consumer brochure targeted to individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. Each year during the winter holiday season, the Home for the Holidays campaign highlights a topic of special interest for caregivers, older adults and family members. Dementia Friendly America was pleased to be highlighted in  this year’s campaign. Check out the Home of the Holidays webinar that also featured information about Dementia Friendly America. Copies of the brochure are available to order. 

Dementia Experts Attend Global Meeting 


Dementia experts from around the globe gathered at the December Salzburg Global Seminar to discuss Changing Minds: Innovations in Dementia Care and Dementia-Friendly Communities. Forty participants, including a representative from Act on Alzheimer's, the model which Dementia Friendly America is based on, attended this year's seminar. The mission of Salzburg Global Seminar is to challenge current and future leaders to solve issues of global concern. Participants from the 14 countries represented have agreed to develop a Salzburg Statement that they can use as a framework when approaching governments and organizations on ways to enhance or explore dementia care in their communities.

Dementia Friendly America Holds Semi-Annual Meeting of National Council

Over 40 members of Dementia Friendly America’s National Council met on December 8, 2017. The meeting focused on highlights from 2017, a recent survey of Dementia Friendly America communities, opportunities to further engage National Council members and evaluation strategies. Special guest  J.J. Jordan, who leads Denver’s dementia friendly community, shared highlights from Denver’s approach for becoming more dementia friendly and showcased low and no budget opportunities for engagement.

National Aging and Disability Transportation Center: Dementia, Caregiving and Transportation Forum


In December 2017, the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) collaborated with Dementia Friendly America and Dementia Friendly Prince George’s County, Maryland to conduct a Dementia, Caregiving and Transportation Forum which was designed to identify challenges and opportunities related to transportation needs of individuals with dementia and their care partners.  The forum was created to serve as a model for other communities who may want to explore transportation issues in their own locales. The Forum included a panel discussion with local and regional, and public and non-profit transportation providers as well as care partners and persons living with dementia. The  participants who  included over 80 care partners and persons living with dementia, had an opportunity to share information on both challenges and solutions they confront as they seek to get to medical appointments, shopping and social activities. Resources from the event will be available in the next one to two months, including a planned webinar. Stay tuned!

• Easthampton non-profit to lead 'dementia-friendly Massachusetts' initiative
• To Help Others, One Couple Talks About Life With Early-Onset Alzheimer's
• Gene Wilder's widow on what it's like to care for someone with Alzheimer's
• Expert Panel Unveils Recommendations for Home-Based Dementia Care
• On the front lines of Alzheimer’s: making towns, businesses dementia friendly

• Alzheimer's Association International Conference (January 29 abstract submission deadline)
• Alzheimer’s Disease International 33^rd Conference (January 31 abstract submission deadline)
• International Perspectives on Supporting People with Dementia and Caregivers (January 30)
• Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s Care Connection Webinar: Spiritual Wellness: Spiritually & Cooperative Caregiving (February 8)
• Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s Care Connection Special Webinar: Keeping Love Alive as Memories Fade: A Valentine's Day Conversation with Dementia Care Partners (February 14)