As an elder law attorney and a certified dementia practitioner, every day I see how dementia affects both people who are living with the diagnosis as well as their family and friends. In both my personal and professional experiences, I’ve often observed that family and friends’ immediate response after a diagnosis is to protect their loved one by limiting their independence. We take away their car keys, change their passwords to their bank accounts, and even decide what they eat to keep them safe and healthy. We make these changes not out of a lack of love or respect, but a lack of understanding. People living with dementia want to – and can – maintain their independence. By taking the time to learn more about dementia and share valuable knowledge within the community, we can better support individuals and help them maintain their independence and quality of life.
Here in Pennsylvania, dementia friendly communities are helping people living with dementia and their care partners feel more understood and included so that they can remain independent for as long as possible. Most Pennsylvanians living with dementia live at home in their communities, often with the help of their care partners. Dementia friendly communities provide free education, training, support, and events so that individuals living with dementia and their care partners can continue to meaningfully engage in everyday life. For example, Dementia Friendly Greater Pittsburgh offers free training for local businesses that want staff to learn more about dementia and how to communicate with customers living with cognitive decline. This can allow people living with dementia to continue simple everyday routines like grocery shopping, attending their place of worship, and enjoying a restaurant with friends. In Susquehanna Valley, their Dementia Friendly Community program offers free, monthly caregiver support groups so that care partners can connect with other members of the community who are experiencing both the good and challenging aspects of caring for someone living with dementia. Creating environments that are more compassionate towards people living with dementia can prevent burnout and social isolation for care partners.
By creating a Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania, we can work together to help more of our fellow Pennsylvanians communicate with and care for those living with dementia so that they can continue to contribute to and enjoy our communities.