- by Sandra Hong
The Alzheimer Society Grey Bruce is taking an exciting step forward in Dementia-Friendly Community development!
Over the last five years, Alzheimer Societies across Ontario have worked alongside people living with dementia, care partners and community partners as we work toward building dementia-friendly communities.
A Dementia Friendly Community (DFC) is a place where people living with dementia and their care partners are welcomed, included and supported. It is a community that pays attention to the social and physical needs of the person living with dementia.
We are connected to these people who are trying to find their way with dementia.
They are your friends and neighbours, people you see every day in your community, the person behind the disease, the care partners who give everything they have, and the family and friends whose lives are forever changed.
There are over 500,000 people living with dementia in Canada which will grow to almost a million by 2030. 28,000 persons living with dementia are under the age of 65.
Dementia is an umbrella term for any disease that causes changes in the brain that get worse over time. Changes can include memory loss, problems with language, trouble with familiar tasks, etc. Dementia is diagnosed when the changes start to affect the person’s everyday activities.
There are some conditions that can cause similar symptoms, but are treatable. With treatment, these symptoms can often be reversed.
The warning signs include:
- changes in mood and behaviour
- problems with language
- problems with abstract thinking
- difficulty performing familiar tasks
- misplacing things
- loss of initiative
- disorientation in time and space
- memory problems that affect daily life
- changes in personality
- impaired judgement
Communication tips include:
- reducing distractions
- make eye contact
- use short simple sentences
- approach from the front in an open and friendly manner
- ask how you can help
- avoid making assumptions
- offer simple choices
- provide clear instructions
- recognize how the person might be perceiving the situation
- offer reassurance
- connect – don’t correct
- observe the person’s actions and body language
When thinking about dementia friendly design, we need to think about the built environment and consider:
- signage/wayfinding
- entrances and lighting
- flooring
- seating
- waiting areas
- washrooms
- background noise
- surfaces
Six out of 10 people living with dementia will go missing at some point throughout the progression of the disease, often without warning. If you suspect the person is lost, call 9-1-1 right away and wait with the person until police arrive.
We welcome the members of our community whether an organization, social group, business, first responder, bank or a library, to take the time to book a training or refresher today. Contact Sandra Hong, Public Education Coordinator, Alzheimer Society Grey Bruce by calling 519.376.7230 / 1.800.265.9014 or by email at [email protected].
If you are a business or organization upon completing the training you will receive a dementia-friendly decal to acknowledge all of those who have taken DFC training and committed to supporting the DFC movement. This will help to raise awareness across our community and expand DFC!
A person with dementia’s experience is always either
enhanced or diminished
by how we choose to relate to them.
~ Unknown
By stepping up and learning more about dementia you strengthen the community by making it a more inclusive place for people impacted by dementia.
Sandra Hong is Public Education Coordinator, Alzheimer Society Grey Bruce
photo: Alzheimer Society of Canada Facebook page
