Dementia Friendly Duluth
Our goal is to make the community more aware, informed, sensitive and supportive of people experiencing and caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of Dementia.
Our objective is to improve awareness of the resources and organizations available to support people with dementia and their families and increase knowledge of dementia across the community.
This project is led by and a priority of The Victory Fund, a foundation created to help communities in northeastern Minnesota identify, address and resolve chronic health issues.
A Shared Vision
Established in 2016, Dementia Friendly Duluth is here to grow a community kind to all minds. We’re happy to see other organizations rallying around this goal — and creating informational videos on how you can be dementia friendly. Watch below.
This Dementia Friends USA video shows that by helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects people, each of us can make a positive difference for people touched by dementia.
This Alzheimer’s Society video from the UK shows what it means to be a dementia-friendly community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between normal aging and not normal aging?
Memory loss that interferes with daily life is considered “not normal”. For example: misplacing your keys is different from not recognizing what keys or for. Here is an article from the CDC to help explain the differences: The Truth About Aging and Dementia (cdc.gov)
Here is a link to the Alzheimer’s association “10 early signs”
Memory Loss & 10 Early Signs of Alzheimer’s | alz.org
Where do I go for help in dealing with my loved one?
The Alzheimer’s Association offers a variety of services. For example, care consultations are an in-depth service offered to assist families and individuals who are facing the challenges of dementia. Creating a plan to deal with the challenges of living with dementia is extremely important for both caregivers and the person living with dementia.
Alzheimer’s Association | Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia Help
What are considerations for placement in a memory home?
This is a very personal decision and there isn’t any one right answer. Give consideration to these questions though: Are you able to keep your loved one physically safe in the home? Are you able to manage the care emotionally? Are you able to meet their social needs? Here are some ideas from Leisure Cares “Senior Blog”
10 Ways to Know it’s Time to Move to Memory Care (leisurecare.com)
What are some activities to keep my loved one engaged?
Involving your loved one in everyday tasks helps them to feel involved and successful. Reinforcing the skill sets they already have helps them maintain those skills for a longer period of time. For example, normal housekeeping chores.
I always encourage people to incorporate a mind activity, a physical activity and a social activity into the daily routine. Encouraging them to complete puzzles, sing, dance, listen to music, garden. The activities they have always enjoyed can be modified to meet their current abilities. Here are many more ideas from the Alzheimer’s Association.
50 Activities | Alzheimer’s Association
How do I keep myself healthy as a caregiver?
It’s very important to give yourself time to relax. Setting aside a place within your home to meditate, exercise, read or do whatever helps you relax is critical for your health as a caregiver. Consider employing an outside agency to give you respite. Here is a link to an article from Caring Bridge about caring for the caregiver.
Caring for the Caregiver: 25 Ways to Care for Yourself | CaringBridge