New Radio Segment Helps Children Whose Family Members Have Dementia
When dementia strikes, all members of a family are affected—including children. Younger children might struggle with the concept of memories and how they can fade away. Others might not know how to interact with their grandparents, who are now forgetful and repeat themselves. When a grandparent lives at home, kids might be reluctant to invite their friends to their house. Dementia Friendly Missoula recently partnered with Montana Public Radio (MTPR), on a 30-minute radio segment, When Alzheimer’s Moves into the Family, that aired as part of a new initiative on MTPR’s long-standing children’s program, The Pea Green Boat. The new initiative, Kids Like You and Me, focuses on stories and interviews with children who have experienced what it’s like to be different from other children. The project was truly intergenerational: MTPR and DFM worked with a semi-retired librarian, two students who are members of a local high school’s Health Occupations Students of America club, a six-year old whose great-grandmother has Alzheimer’s, a retired physician and former caregiver.
Dementia Friendly Business Resources
A new DFA resource aims to help DFA communities as they encourage local businesses to become dementia friendly. Based on lessons learned from DFA communities, a new DFA tip sheet, Dementia Friendly Businesses and Organizations: Information for Starting a Local Initiative, provides information on the business benefits, criteria, content and best practices businesses can use to become more dementia friendly. The DFA website also includes examples of dementia friendly business trainings such as the Dementia Friendly @ Workprogram, which can be offered by peers within an agency or business. DFA partner Home Instead offers an Alzheimer’s Friendly Business online course. These resources and more are available in the Dementia Friendly America Resources portal!
Youth Movement Against Alzheimer’s Featured on the Today Show
A recent Today Show segment focused on the impact Alzheimer’s and dementia have on youth and young adults, particularly as more of them become caregivers for family members affected by dementia. The segment examined how millennials are caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease. DFA partner Youth Movement Against Alzheimer’s (YMAA) and its CEO/Co-Founder, Nihal Satyadev, were featured in the segment. The mission of YMAA is to promote understanding of Alzheimer’s among youth and young adults by providing opportunities to help those it affects.
LeadingAge Initiative Encourages Millennials to Talk to Parents About Long-Term Services and Supports
It is important to establish older relatives’ care preferences, concerns and deal breakers so families feel prepared for the future. Millennials have an opportunity over the summer to begin these care discussions while spending time with their family members. Encourage young adults to start the conversation by sharing resources from the Carry the Convo campaign and spread the word in your community!
AARP Investing $60 Million to Fund Research for Cures to Dementia and Alzheimer’s
AARP’s Brain Health Fund announced that it will invest $60 million in the Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF), which invests in research and development of breakthrough treatments for dementia. By bringing together the world’s best minds to accelerate global research efforts, the hope is that DDF will help to kick-start a different approach to dementia research by applying Silicon Valley’s venture capital model to fund research toward new therapies. Founded in 2015, DDF has invested in 16 organizations that are exploring new pathways for treating dementia.
Dementia Friends USA
There Are 17,340 Dementia Friends across the United States. Join the Movement by becoming a Dementia Friend!
Dementia Friendly America
Starting a Dementia Friendly Community initiative? ContactDementia Friendly America for resources and support!
- Dementia Friendly Toolkit: Role Play Simulations for Care and Community Settings
- Dementia Friendly Hospitals from a Universal Design Approach: Design Guidelines (Ireland)
- Dementia’s Impact On A Milwaukee Man’s Life (WUWM 89.7) – July 17, 2018
- Kids Like You And Me: When Alzheimer’s Moves Into The Family (Montana Public Radio) – July 6, 2018
- City launches age and dementia-friendly pilot program for local businesses(Boston Globe) – July 6, 2018
- New toolkit guides professionals, others in scenarios involving dementia(UWM News) – June 21, 2018
- Changemaker: Seattle woman helps lead effort, providing solutions for those with dementia (Q13 Fox) – May 24, 2018
- Dementia Friendly Montrose aims to make their community more comfortable for patients with dementia (Los Angeles Times) – May 11, 2018
- Alzheimer’s Association International Conference: AbbVie “Facing Down Dementia” Symposium – July 24 (with remarks by Sandy Markwood, DFA Co-Chair and CEO, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a))
- Alzheimer’s Disease International Conference: Dementia Friendly Communities A – July 28 (with a presentation by Meredith Hanley, DFA Project Director)
- n4a Conference: Developing Dementia-Friendly Networks & Community Transportation Partnerships – July 29
- n4a Conference: Mainstreaming Livable Communities for All Ages: San Diego County’s Journey (San Diego age friendly and DFA initiative) – July 30
- n4a Conference: Dementia Friends: Reaching Individuals, ChangingCommunities – July 30
- n4a conference: Dementia Friendly Nevada: A State Initiative with Local Impact – July 31
- National Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center: Addressing Health Disparities in People Living with Dementia Webinar – July 31
- Alzheimer’s Foundation of America – What There is to Know on Guardianship– August 9
Last Updated on April 28, 2020
