Minnesota has crossed a significant milestone in making our communities a place where people living with dementia can be supported and included.
Dementia Friends is a global movement that “strives to create more dementia-friendly communities by changing the way people think, act and talk about dementia.” It was developed by the Alzheimer’s Society in the United Kingdom. MAAA manages the Dementia Friends Minnesota in partnership with Stratis Health, Alzheimer’s Association of Minnesota and North Dakota and the Minnesota Board on Aging.
Colleen Fritsch, a master trainer for Dementia Friends Minnesota, notes that according to the Alzheimer’s Association 99,000 people live with dementia in Minnesota. “Twenty thousand Dementia Friends is a huge milestone, providing one friend for every five people living with the disease,” she said. “Wouldn’t it be lovely if it were the other way around, with five friends for every person living with dementia.”
It’s easy to become a Dementia Friend
Perhaps you already know someone living with the disease, or will know someone in the next few years. The Alzheimer’s Association predicts that 120,000 Minnesotans will have dementia by 2025. Anyone can play a role in making a community welcoming and safe for people living with dementia. And that role is easier than you might think.
You can become a Dementia Friend by attending a one-hour information session. You’ll learn five key messages about dementia and what it’s like to live with the disease. And you’ll learn how to turn your understanding into action. It’s an opportunity to be a better neighbor—a friend—to people with dementia. You don’t need to be an expert to become a Dementia Friend. Learn more about Dementia Friends Minnesota. Twenty thousand Minnesotans have already become Dementia Friends. Will you join them?
Dementia Friends Information Sessions are now available online. Find the session that best fits your schedule.
