Introducing the Dementia Resource Guide

Available for free download!

Dementia Friendly Iowa in collaboration with the Area Agencies on Aging and the Iowa Department on Aging have been working on an exciting project.

We’d like to announce our Dementia Resource Guide! A diagnosis or signs of dementia can be overwhelming, and often, people are not sure where to turn for support. This guide was created to help point people with dementia and their caregivers to the available resources in Iowa. The guide is organized by topics related to dementia and caregiving.

Please use however you see fit and share with others who may benefit.

To access the guide online, visit https://dementiafriendlyiowa.org/iowa-dementia-resource-guide/

Dubuque, IA

Dementia Friendly Dubuque promotes community change and education to create a more informed, safe and respectful place for people living with dementia and their care partners. The community of Dubuque has a history of providing strong support for families impacted by dementia and desires to expand its programming from serving smaller advocate groups to serving the community at large. The Dubuque Action Team is comprised of individuals who have played a key role in establishing the local memory café, dementia-specific music groups and a variety of caregiver support groups. As the Action Team continues to grow, members will be trained as Dementia Friends Champions and will continue offering regular Dementia Friends community informational sessions in addition to specialized dementia-friendly business trainings. Partnering with the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging, the local Alzheimer’s Association chapter and community members living with dementia and/or providing care for someone living with dementia, Dementia Friendly Dubuque focuses on increasing community investment and promoting inclusivity.

The local effort is co-led by Stacie Speirs and Laura Nissen. After the holidays, the Dubuque action team is hosting a re-launch meeting. Anyone from the Dubuque community is welcome to join. The meeting will be held virtually on January 12 at 1pm. Contact sspeirs@nei3a.org for information regarding the next action team meeting.

Johnson County, IA

The Dementia Friendly Johnson County Action Team is a collaborative effort consisting of local government, Heritage Area Agency on Aging, Alzheimer’s Association—Iowa Chapter, agencies serving older adults, and older adult community members including those living with dementia. Johnson County, already well-versed in offering Dementia Friends sessions, plans to also conduct dementia-friendly training for business, community organizations, government entities, local school districts and the University of Iowa. Dementia Friendly Johnson County created subcommittees focused on four priority areas: training, recruitment/outreach, research and marketing. The mission of the Dementia Friendly Johnson County Action Team is to break the stigma surrounding dementia by creating awareness, educating community members and businesses, and growing Iowa’s network of Dementia Friends.

The local effort is co-led by Jeff Kellbach and Kim Bergen-Jackson with several local community members and organizations collaborating together on the team.

Haven't yet become a Dementia Friend? Sign up for an upcoming session to become a Dementia Friend here.

Champions Most Needed in These Counties:

Adair County

Adams County

Allamakee County

Appanoose County

Audubon County

Boone County

Buena Vista County

Butler County

Calhoun County

Cass County

Cedar County

Cherokee County

Chickasaw County

Clarke County

Clayton County

Clinton County

Crawford County

Dallas County

Davis County

Decatur County

Dickinson County

Emmet County

Franklin County

Fremont County

Greene County

Guthrie County

Hamilton County

Hancock County

Hardin County

Harrison County

Henry County

Howard County

Humboldt County

Ida County

Iowa County

Jasper County

Keokuk County

Lee County

Louisa County

Lucas County

Lyon County

Madison County

Mahaska County

Marshall County

Mills County

Monona County

Monroe County

Montgomery County

Muscatine County

O'Brien County

Osceola County

Page County

Plymouth County

Pocahontas County

Poweshiek County

Ringgold County

Sac County

Shelby County

Sioux County

Taylor County

Union County

Van Buren County

Wapello County

Warren County

Washington County

Wayne County

Webster County

Winnebago County

Woodbury County

Worth County

Wright County

Email mzimmerman@nei3a.org with questions or

sign up for a Champion Training here.

The holidays are just around the corner. It's time to think about dementia friendly holiday practices!

Holidays are often a time of joy, but they can also pose unique challenges to people living with dementia and their families. Below are some tips to consider and share.

Consider the Timeline

• A person with dementia may need to keep attendance at a holiday gathering brief. It can become exhausting or overwhelming being surrounded by all of the people, activities, and food. Meet the person where they are comfortable. Perhaps an hour of celebrating is better for them than a full day. Consider spreading the visits across a few days instead of all in a single day.

Provide a Quiet Space

• A person with dementia may need a quieter room to rest or visit with a person one-on-one instead of the full group.

Prepare the Other Guests

• Provide an update to other guests on the new symptoms of the person with dementia beforehand if possible. Offer helpful communication tips.

Adapt the Activities

• Some traditions may need to be cut or adapted. Focus on what the person with dementia enjoys doing now, not what they always did.

Consider the Environment

• Consider toning down the distracting decorations, such as blinking lights or decorations with repetitive movement or sound. Avoid potential dangers, such as burning candles or fake fruit.