Dementia
Friends
Dementia Friends Rooms Experience
After over a year of development we are excited to share our brand-new Dementia Friends Rooms Experience!
Welcome to Dementia Friends for
American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
Dementia Friends is a global movement that aims to change the way people view dementia. By educating communities about what dementia is and how it affects people, we can all make a difference for people affected by dementia. This program has been adapted specifically for American Indian and Alaska Native individuals and communities. Dementia Friends will aid in spreading awareness, reducing stigma, and reducing risk in tribes and urban-Indian communities.
Become a Dementia Friend!
Want to make your community more accessible to individuals with dementia, consider participating in an hour-long Dementia Friends Information Session. This session will touch on what it is like to live with dementia and cover 6 key messages about dementia. After completing this session you will be asked to turn your understanding into a practical action that can help someone living with dementia within your community. You get to decide how big or small your action is, because every action counts!
Want to champion the Dementia Friends movement?
Dementia Friends Information Sessions are facilitated by volunteer Champions who have participated in a Champion training. This will equip you with the knowledge and activities needed to facilitate Dementia Friends Information Sessions with family, friends, colleagues, and the wider community. Learn about the Champion’s role and expectations.
The River Story applies a Native American cultural analogy to the topic of dementia. This updated version of The River Story has been created for use in the adaptation of the Dementia Friends for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The story is read by Dave Baldridge, Executive director of the International Association for Indigenous Aging. Dave successfully lives and works with dementia.
The River Story was originally written and narrated by Dr. Anton (Waagosh) Truer, Professor of Ojibwe, Bemidji State University. Learn More about the context for the original story at actonalz.org/pdf/rivercontext.pdf
Below are a few other videos to learn more about the Dementia Friends movement and about memory loss.
Should someone be displaying signs of dementia, reach out to a medical care provider as soon as possible. An early diagnosis can make all the difference.
Dementia Friends Interest Form
Are you interested in participating in or signing up for an upcoming Dementia Friends Information Session? Submit your information here, and we will reach out to you with more details!
