Thursday, May 06, 2021
Lombard, IL – AgeGuide, the Area Agency on Aging for Northeastern Illinois, and the City of Lombard are partnering to make Lombard a Dementia Friendly Community. AgeGuide is seeking community members to join an Advisory Council that will work together to improve the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers. The first meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, May 20 from 10-11:30 AM via Zoom.
A dementia friendly community raises awareness and develops respect and inclusion for people with dementia. The designation also means that services and resources are integrated into all aspects of community life. This ensures positive interactions, ease of access and meaningful engagement for people with dementia, their care partners and families.
The number of people with dementia is increasing at a rapid rate due to an aging baby boomer generation. Forward-thinking communities across the United States are preparing now to address changing needs and demographics by embracing innovative strategies to support people living with dementia.
Every part of the community has a role to play and can work together to take steps to create a dementia friendly culture. Businesses, such as banks, shops, and legal services support customers and employees who have or care for someone with dementia. Health care systems promote early diagnosis and options for ongoing care and support. Local governments plan and implement housing, transportation, public spaces, and emergency response systems that enable people with dementia to thrive in the community. Neighbors and communities of faith lend understanding and support. Residential care and community-based services offer a range of services to maximize independence and support ongoing community engagement with a variety of options adapted to cognitive challenges.
Everyone with an interest in preparing for advancing the Dementia Friendly Lombard community initiative is invited to join the advisory council. If you are interested, contact Colette Jordan at (630) 785-2616 or [email protected]. More information about Dementia Friendly America is available at www.dfamerica.org.
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AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois is a nonprofit organization responsible for developing and coordinating a network of services for older adults throughout the eight county region. AgeGuide informs and advises public and private agencies and the general public of the needs of older adults living in the area, and acts as an advocate on their behalf. The Agency serves DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. Other information about AgeGuide and other topics of interest to older adults and links to other resources are available at the Agency’s web site: www.ageguide.org.
