Kankakee County is holding a meeting to learn more about how the community can work together to improve the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers. Learn more about Dementia Friendly America and what Kankakee County can do to take action to improve opportunities and outcomes for people with dementia and their care partners. Please join us on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 from 3-5 pm at Riverside Senior Life Communities, 85 E. Burns Road, Bourbonnais to explore how Kankakee County can become dementia friendly.

The number of people with dementia is increasing at a rapid rate – one in nine people over 65 years of age have dementia and about one-third of people over 85 have the disease. Communities across the United States are acting now to prepare for the increasing numbers of people who will have dementia as their populations age.

The Dementia Friendly America initiative is a multi-sector, national collaborative of over 35 leading organization that are catalyzing a movement and set of best practices to foster “dementia friendly” communities across the United States to improve opportunities and outcomes for a growing number of people with dementia, their families and care partners.

A dementia friendly community 1) raises awareness of and develops respect and inclusion for people with dementia, 2) has services and resources embedded in all areas of community to ensure meaningful access to community and promote quality of life, 3) supports and educates people with dementia, their care partners and families from diagnosis through disease progression and 4) promotes meaningful engagement in community life.

Every part of the community plays a role and can work together to take steps to create a dementia friendly culture.

• Businesses, such as banks and financial and legal services support customers with dementia and employers

support employees who are caregivers

• Health care systems promote early diagnosis and options for ongoing care and support

• Communities of faith welcome and engage

• Local governments plan and implement housing, transportation, public spaces, and emergency response that enable people with dementia to thrive in the community

• Neighbors and community members understand and support

• Residential care and community based supports offer a range of services to maximize independence and support ongoing community engagement with a variety of options adapted to cognitive decline.

The Dementia Friendly America initiative provides a system of technical assistance and tools and resources to assist communities and individuals take action to improve community and system capabilities, optimize the health, well-being and involvement of people with dementia and their care partners, and support them to continue in their roles.

Everyone with an interest in preparing Kankakee County for dementia is invited to attend. More information about Dementia Friendly America is available at dfamerica.org

*The Dementia Friendly Initiative is funded through the Illinois Department on Aging from a grant from the Administration for Community Living.

This event is made possible through a partnership between the Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet and Riverside Senior Life Communities.

Posted by Maggie Snow on Sunday, February 18th, 2018 @ 10:55PM
Categories: Uncategorized