Dementia Friendly America
On September 21, 2018 Cross Keys Village invited local business owners and other leaders to a breakfast during which we made public an initiative that had been months in the making. Dementia Friendly America is a nationwide movement that began in 2015 with the goal of making local communities more aware and better prepared to care for neighbors who live with dementia. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our Director of Memory Support, Jennifer Holcomb, Cross Keys Village is now heading the local chapter of DFA, covering five neighboring communities.
Over the months, Jenn has gathered talented steering committee that includes representatives from the Alzheimer’s Association, UPMC Pinnacle Hanover, Visiting Angels, Mooney & Associates, Good News Consulting, and our local government offices Aging Services. During the presentation following the breakfast, we heard alarming statistics regarding the impact that dementia is expected to have as the population ages. Yet, we were also encouraged when hearing some common-sense and low-cost solutions based on plain old caring for one another.
Bill O’Brien from WHVR Radio, was the event’s eloquent presenter, and the program included short video clips like this one, that made the ultimate goal of this initiative clear to all: a community that is both safer for individuals with dementia and more supportive for their caregivers. One presenter who transfixed the room was Mr. Gene Becker, a gentleman living with Lewy Body Dementia. His courage and the devotion of his wife and caregiver Nancy brought depth and a better understanding of the reality of life with dementia to the participants.
At the end of the program, business representatives located in the covered townships filled out Partner Cards to indicate their willingness to undergo some education and participate in the program. If you are interested in our local Dementia Friendly America efforts or wish to receive a packet of information, please contact us with the form at the bottom of this page.