Dementia Friends
Dementia Friends is a global movement that is changing the way people think, act and talk about dementia. With Arizona anticipated to experience the highest-growth rate of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias nationally, it’s important to create more programs and resources to help entire communities understand what dementia is and how it affects people. The Dementia Friendly Arizona initiative, led by Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, is working to ensure communities across the state are equipped to support people living with dementia and their caregivers.
Thank you to the collaborators and partners that have helped establish Dementia Friendly cities since Tempe was named as a dementia friendly city at the White House conference on aging in June 2015. These Arizona communities have officially been designated and have committed to building more Dementia Friendly communities:
- Dementia Friendly Glendale
- Dementia Friendly Goodyear
- Dementia Friendly Mesa
- Dementia Friendly Pima County
- Dementia Friendly Phoenix
- Dementia Friendly Scottsdale
- Dementia Friendly Surprise
- Dementia Friendly Tempe
Dementia Friends seeks to change people’s perceptions of dementia by transforming how we think, talk and act about the disease. It’s a big project that asks for a small commitment, one hour of your time. You will learn the critical aspects to better understand dementia, how it affects people and how we each can make a difference in the lives of people living with dementia. Learn five key messages about dementia, common types and turn understanding into action.
A Dementia Friend can participate in a Champions Training in order to help spread the word by providing 1-hour sessions to family, friends and contacts within their community networks to help people understand how they can make a difference in the lives of people and families living with dementia.
Memory Café
Memory Café provides a social and resource place for people living with memory loss and their care partners. Caregivers participate in an education/support session while people with memory loss actively participate in a cognitive engagement program. The program is free of charge and no reservations are required.
.Learn more about Tempe's Memory Café.
Learn more about Surprise's Memory Café.