Pictured: New Dementia Friends from sessions at local libraries, provided by Tara Hill Matthews and Jenni Jones, staff members at Aging Long Term Care of Eastern WA and Dementia Friends Regional Coordinators.
Dementia Friends WA partners with organizations throughout the state to implement the Dementia Friends program in their region. Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington, an agency that covers Ferry, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, and Whitman counties, has been seeing positive growth in the Dementia Friends program, as well as increased volunteer interest. Currently, this region has 300 Dementia Friends!
Tara Hill Matthews and Jenni Jones, staff members at Aging Long Term Care of Eastern WA and Dementia Friends Regional Coordinators, are hard at work, providing sessions at local library locations in the area.
“We are grateful for everyone who has seen the growing need for knowledge about dementia and has taken the step to become a Dementia Friend," says Tara Hill Matthews, Dementia Resource Catalyst, Aging Long Term Care of Eastern WA. "We especially appreciate our Dementia Friends Champions and Spokane Regional DFC volunteers who are working tirelessly to make our area more dementia friendly by doing things like leading Dementia Friends Information Sessions, creating our business certification program, working with faith communities to find ways to make services more dementia friendly and creating materials for medical professionals.”
Dementia Friends play a part in building Dementia Friendly Communities. New Dementia Friends turn the understanding about dementia they receive during an Information Session into action. Many new Dementia Friends choose to support dementia friendly efforts within their community as their action item. Dementia Friendly America describes a dementia friendly community as, “a village, town, city, or county that is informed, safe, and respectful of individuals living with dementia, their families and caregivers and provides supportive options that foster quality of life.”
A graphic illustrating the elements of a dementia-friendly community
Spokane is a Dementia Friendly Community. You can read more about efforts to create a supportive environment for individuals living with dementia, the history, and the accomplishments around the dementia friendly community on the Spokane Regional Dementia-Friendly Community webpage. The website also provides information on how the community can get involved by doing things like attending events, participating in training sessions, becoming a dementia-friendly business/organization and supporting dementia-friendly practices. The overarching goal is to build a network of compassionate and knowledgeable individuals and organizations to better serve those affected by dementia.
Another publication to check out to learn more about Dementia Friends and the Spokane Regional Dementia Friendly Community is the Spokane Area Dementia Newsletter. This is a fantastic publication that highlights a range of resources and events for individuals affected by dementia and their caregivers. It features upcoming support groups, educational workshops, and community activities aimed at improving quality of life and providing assistance. Key announcements include new local programs designed to offer respite care, enhance caregiver skills, and foster community connections. The newsletter also emphasizes the importance of continued education and offers tips for managing dementia-related challenges. Check out the most recent edition.
Interested in becoming a Dementia Friend in Eastern WA who takes action to help build this dementia friendly community? Learn more. - Katie Zeitler
