Exploring Dementia Friendly
Communities
Avril Dooley
Grassroots Coordinator
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland
October 25th 2012
41106459/VB
Take a moment to think about...
• What does the word community mean
to a person with dementia?
• Where do people with dementia meet in
their community?
• How do people with dementia engage
in their community?
• Who does the person with dementia
engage with in their community?
• Why does the meaning of community
change when a person receives a
diagnosis of dementia?
What do Dementia Friendly
Communities (DFC) mean to
the Person with Dementia?
What People with Dementia
told us....
Every day I go for
a walk and a
coffee is good.
Routine is
important.
I stay positive because I
made a decision to keep a
positive attitude.
Tell people
you have
dementia,
they want
to know
I have good
neighbours
that drop in
for a chat
and check in
with me.
I took a step back
when I received
the diagnosis – I
felt unsure about
my ability.
I was told to stop
everything, told to
stop doing the things
I liked.
It is hard at times
because of the things you
can no longer do. You
definitely feel different.
You lose
confidence
Why do we need DFC?
• Address the social exclusion and stigma of
dementia
• People with dementia and their families
have reported that their world shrinks
when a diagnosis is received
• People and communities avoid dementia
because they do not know how to respond
• We must work at removing the barriers for
people to participate in their community
What do we mean by DFC?
DFC are about transforming our
villages, towns, cities and communities
into better places to live for people with
dementia
It is not about setting up ‘new’ services,
but instead supporting the existing
community to become dementia friendly
and inclusive
Key Activities of
Dementia Friendly Communities
1. Developing educational and awareness tools for
key people living and working in the community
2. Volunteering - Develop a buddy system for
people living with dementia using community
volunteers
3. Creating appropriate environmental factors by
removing barriers for people with dementia
4. Enabling the engagement of people with
dementia and their families in their communities
“Must haves” of
Dementia Friendly Communities
Community development approach
Direct engagement of people with
dementia and their families
Equity of approach
Partnership
Where are we now?
Genio Projects
Community Action on Dementia in Mayo
Launch 2012
Dementia Aware Donegal
Other areas interested in DFC
Kilkenny
Clare
South Dublin
Sligo
Social Clubs
The Alzheimer Café
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown
Social Inclusion Week
Where to from here....
The Future for DFC
Build the appropriate structures
led by The Alzheimer Society of
Ireland in partnership with the
relevant stakeholders
Continue to promote the
development of community
supports for people with
dementia and their carers
Share the learning
from other
Dementia Friendly
Communities
projects
Develop a toolkit of guidelines on
how to develop
Dementia Friendly Communities
Thank You!
For More Information:
www.alzheimer.ie
Avril Dooley
adooley@alzheimer.ie
01 2073802