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River Forest's Dementia Friendly Movement
Communities from coast to coast are joining the Dementia Friendly America movement. Dementia Friendly America strives to create communities where all people can live, age and thrive. Alzheimer's and other dementias impact all of us: our families, our communities and our businesses. Committed partners from Oak Park and River Forest have come together to foster a Dementia Friendly River Forest (DFRF) by making training and resources available to local families, businesses and organizations. In response to COVID-19, Dementia Friendly River Forest and Concordia University Chicago Center for Gerontology have partnered to develop a series of art-based creative activities specifically designed to to engage and bring joy to people with dementia and their families. These videos are free and can be found under the Creative Endeavors tab above. Please join us on November 15, 2021 at 10:30 am as Dementia Friendly River Forest and the Sheridan at River Forest hosts a FREE training to help your organization or business heighten their awareness of dementia. Participants will learn how to respond compassionately and effectively when serving people living with dementia. We will be providing a boxed lunch and raffling off door prizes. The training will take place at the Sheridan at River Forest located at 800 N. Harlem, River Forest, IL 60305. Register here. |
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Why Dementia Friendly?
Join River Forest's Dementia Friendly movement. By 2025, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is estimated to reach 7.1 million-- a 40 percent increase from the 5.2 million age 65 and older affected in 2015. These numbers represent family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, colleagues, clients, and customers. |
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What does it mean to be Dementia Friendly?
We cultivate a community where people are mindful and be of support to others by being involved in activities and social opportunities. Such activities and opportunities provide meaning and purpose in the lives of seniors. Through the creation of dementia friendly communities, we will tackle social isolation and stigma through education and awareness. The Dementia Friendly America (DFA) Initiative is a low-cost approach to achieving greater community awareness, and would encourage key organizations such as businesses, banks, retail chains, as well as hospitals and emergency services to make their services more accessible to people with dementia here in the communities of Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park, IL. |
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How can your business or organization become certified as Dementia Friendly?
Help prepare your business or organization for the changing community needs with certification as a dementia friendly business or organization. DFRF facilitates the process, which requires you to:
• Tips about how to communicate • Making your environment dementia friendly • Information about local resources.
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