Washington Fruit Community Center
Last month, Dementia Friends Washington experienced its largest monthly jump in number of new Dementia Friends so far in 2024. 284 attendees joined a Dementia Friends Information Session between October 16- November 15.
This global public awareness and anti-stigma movement has continued to grow in Washington state with support from our regional partner organizations and our dedicated volunteers, also known as Champions. In Washington, there are currently 3,536 Dementia Friends and more than 60 Champions supporting the movement. We’ve held over 130 information sessions across the state this year, which has allowed an opportunity to spread awareness about dementia to community members and sector-specific groups, including business and finance groups, transportation services, housing services, colleges and universities, faith communities, senior centers, libraries, and more.
"I recently presented Dementia Friends to 55 nursing students and instructors at Pacific Lutheran University. These students were preparing for a rotation at assisted living facilities. I enjoy giving information sessions to nursing students as they are interested in learning about dementia but more importantly, how to best be of care to patients living with dementia," said Wendy Morris, Dementia Friends Regional Coordinator for Pierce County.
This fall, the Dementia Friends curriculum became available in Spanish and Mandarin, which has allowed us to reach additional groups. Johnica Castro, Dementia Friends Regional Coordinator with Southeast Washington Aging and Long-term Care, recently held the first session in Washington in Spanish at the Washington Fruit Community Center. Kin On, an organization that provides services to Asian Elders, has been instrumental in helping to facilitate sessions in Mandarin this fall.
Growth would not happen without the leadership of our regional partners. Dementia Friends has Regional Lead Organizations in 28 counties, with volunteer activity in two additional counties. 8 new counties have joined the movement this year.
One of our new partner organizations, Olympic Area Agency on Aging, who covers Jefferson, Clallam, Pacific, and Grays Harbor counties, recently reached their regional Dementia Friends goal of 100 new Dementia Friends. Bri Buchanan enthusiastically leads the awareness efforts in her region.
There has been a surge of interested volunteer Champions this year, especially in recent months. Anyone can become a Dementia Friends Champion regardless of personal experience or expertise. Training to lead the Dementia Friends Information Sessions out in the community is offered and additional support is available.
“Although dementia has become a prevalent term in the news, it was not until a loved one had it that you started to feel the social stigma and the daily frustration. As the primary caregiver to my grandpa, my healthy grandma was hospitalized twice in the past 2 years. That speaks to the indescribable stress and anxiety faced by a dementia caregiver.
I have become a Dementia Friend because I want to help families demystify the abnormal "senior moments," raise awareness of the support needed in the memory community, and what each individual can do to change the narrative of dementia caregiving and maintain a quality of life. It's not just about individual efforts, but about the collective power of the community to make a difference.” – Ju T., a new Dementia Friends volunteer.
Community members and sectors are eager to receive this information and our regional partners and volunteers play a big role in making this happen. Community spaces and different sectors have offered space to hold these sessions, inviting staff, volunteers, residents, patrons, and the public to join. With the growing number of individuals living with dementia in Washington, more awareness is needed. We hope that the word will continue to spread about Dementia Friends and that more people living in Washington can access this information.
To learn more about Dementia Friends WA, visit www.dementiafriendswa.uw.edu.
- Katie Zeitler
