The Dementia Friendly Task Force represents a broad range of community members. The Task Force members include people from senior services organizations and programs, government officials and committee members, local government, first responders, city history museum, city hospital, park district, local library, and community members.
In 1973 the Elmhurst Senior Commission formed. They have a long history coordinating services and efforts for the community and will be the lead organization for Dementia Friendly Elmhurst. The DFC Ad Hoc Committee will report monthly to the Senior Commission. Many members of the Senior Commission have already become a Dementia Friend with plans of several becoming a Dementia Champion.
They already provide a Memory Café and have held several dementia programs for the commission and the public.
The Task Force plans to provide several items which include: hosting an annual “Community Conversation” on cable TV; holding an annual discussion group for those living with dementia; continuing their Memory Café; creating online resources; developing a community specific dementia resource guide; presenting a DF resource table to the bi-annual Resource and Safety Symposium; and supporting the Police Department in sharing their Special Needs Registry.
The Dementia Friendly Ad Hoc committee collected a broad range of letters of support for their efforts. These letters of support commit to provide resources from various healthcare organizations and the park district, offer programs through the library, education and Knox Boxes for people who have difficulty answering the door in an emergency by first responders, and programs in senior communities from the Historical Museum.
Dementia Friendly Elmhurst Contacts
Cathy Jordan
Elmhurst Senior Citizens Commission
Email
Jennifer Vince
Senior Care Navigation – Solutions for Healthy Aging
Email