Dementia-Friendly Communities Union of BC Municipalities Convention

Transcription

1 Dementia-Friendly Communities Union of BC Municipalities Convention September 25, 2014 Community Matters to Freda Freda, who lives alone, often experiences difficulties: Remembering to pay bills. Getting around her town. Engaging socially. Getting enough exercise. 1

2 Why Does Freda Experience Difficulties? There are types and stages of dementia. Some of Freda s symptoms include: Disorientation of time and place. Changes in mood and behaviour. Memory loss affecting day-to-day function. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. Dementia is not part of normal aging. Community Matters Community refers to a location or group of people. Communities play an important role in: Reducing the stigma associated with dementia. Promoting healthy aging in familiar settings. Supporting risk reduction and safety. Memory loss may be exacerbated by unfriendly environments. More than 70,000 people in B.C. live with dementia. Approximately 60 per cent of them live in the community. 2

3 Seniors in Your Community Dementia-Friendly Communities We don t want to be seen as suffering from dementia, this is a term we really do not like. We are living with it and getting on with it with laughter and love and that makes a difference. We are being heard and our opinions valued. Agnes Houston, Scottish Dementia Working Group 3

4 Dementia-Friendly Communities Dementia-Friendly Communities improve quality of life by: Reducing stigma. Reducing confusion and disorientation. Reducing stressful interactions with municipal sectors. Supporting people with dementia to live in their communities for longer. Why Being Dementia-Friendly Matters Dr. Howard Feldman, Executive Associate Dean of Research and Professor of Neurology, UBC 4

5 International Dementia-Friendly Community Initiatives United Kingdom Prime Minister s challenge launched March Dementia-Friendly Communities are a key part. Goal: 20 cities/towns/villages signed up by 2015; currently there are over 69 signed up. Involve local businesses to support the initiative. Dementia Friends are at the heart of Dementia-Friendly Communities according to David Cameron, PM Why Being Dementia-Friendly Matters Dementia affects individuals, as well as family, friends and neighbours. Consideration and respect for the person with dementia means that everyone is supported. Through Dementia-Friendly Communities we create a ripple effect small actions result in big changes and create better municipalities for us all. Dr. Penny Ballem, Vancouver City Manager 5

6 Core Values of Dementia-Friendly Communities Inclusion. Responsiveness. Compassion. Stigma reduction and respect. The Alzheimer Society of B.C. s Goal Support municipalities and the general public to become dementia-friendly through tools, education and partnerships. 6

7 Building Capacity in Your Community Improve knowledge and skills of current staff. Adapt policies and bylaws that are dementia friendly. Partner with local and regional resources. Work with transportation industry. Partnering with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. Dementia information and tailored resources for RCMP Firefighters Libraries and Recreation Building and Development; Engineering; Urban Planning Facilitate education sessions for groups in your community. Formal dementia friendly recognition spread the word. 7

8 In Your Community Alzheimer Resource Centres, serviced areas and First Link communities. Taking on the Challenge The familiarity and sense of self-worth derived from being appreciated and loved are hugely comforting; and the confidence that comes from being accepted not only by family and friends, but also the supermarket cashier and the postman, is utterly invaluable. The challenge for the rest of the world is how to accommodate those vital needs. A Good Life with Dementia report, UK 8

9 Three Simple Actions 1. Promote the Dementia-Friendly Community concept to your Council. 2. Contact the Alzheimer Society of B.C. for resources to create Dementia-Friendly Communities. 3. Understand the impact of dementia on your community check your statistics. Thank You For more information about Dementia-Friendly Communities please contact the Alzheimer Society of B.C. at Questions? 9