Dementia Friendly Glen Ellyn is an opportunity for our village to learn about dementia, reduce stigma, increase empathy and provide safe spaces to navigate. Our residents living with dementia and their caregivers will be respected, supported, feel less isolated, remain engaged in the community, and have a higher quality of life. This initiative is overseen by a team from the community representing our library, businesses, faith communities, service organizations, village trustees, people with dementia and care providers.
The Dementia Friendly Task Force represents a broad range of community members. These members represent a person with dementia, a caregiver, the library, the Alzheimer’s Association, the county senior services, a local village trustee, the community relations commission, a faith community, the Chamber of Commerce, and the local area agency on aging
As a community, they have already developed a memory café, a support group, educational programs, and memory kits which can be checked out at the library. Several on the task force have already become a Dementia Champion and Dementia Friends training was provided to around 60 library staff.
The Task Force has plans to provide a dementia resource brochure, create a village proclamation, have Dementia Friendly material in village material, such as newsletters and their website, provide dementia resources at community events, and create dementia specific times with local restaurants, the theatre, stores and the local arboretum. There is already a Dementia Friends talk scheduled for a local faith community and plans to train the village staff and board, first responders, and the Chamber of Commerce.
Dementia Friendly Glen Ellyn Contact
Linda Richman
Email
630.596.3225
Dawn Bussey
Glen Ellyn Public Library
Email
630.469.0879