In the five years since its recognition, Dementia Friendly Naperville has:
· Delivered training in dementia awareness to 100% of the employees of Naperville Police Department, Naperville Public Library, and Naperville Park District. Training is ongoing for new staff members as they are hired.
· Launched Memory Café in 2021 for people living with dementia and their care partners. Due to the demand a second Memory Café was launched in 2025.
· Created a brochure of dementia resources as well as an online Resource Directory for care partners of people with dementia.
· Established an in-person support group affiliated with Alzheimer’s Association for care partners of people with dementia.
· Trained committee members as “Dementia Friends” and “Dementia Champions”
· Launched a Dementia Friendly movie program in cooperation with the Naperville Park District.
Going forward, DFN’s goal is to add active members of the community to DFN in order to expand dementia services. Going forward goals include:
· Continue all of the above
· Initiate dementia training for places of worship (~60 in Naperville) and restaurants
· Educate community members on dementia awareness through Dementia Friends
· Improve the physical environment in public places to make it more dementia friendly Dementia Friendly Naperville’s website is http://www.naperville.il.us/dementiafriendly
For more information, contact Lisa Kirchner or Jack Kreger.
Dementia Friendly’s email address is DementiaFriendlyNaperville+info@gmail.com
The Dementia Friendly Naperville website.
Dementia Friendly Naperville Contacts
Lisa Kirchner and Jack Kreger
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