News
Dementia Friendly America Celebrates Five Years!
- By: USAging
- On: 08/07/2020 13:16:26
- In: Program Update
Last month marked the five-year anniversary of Dementia Friendly America! DFA continues to ensure that communities, organizations and individuals across the country are equipped to support people living with dementia and their caregivers. Through the work of more than 35 leading national organizations and co-chaired and administered by n4a, DFA is catalyzing a movement to more effectively support and serve those who are living with dementia and their care partners.
The DFA movement began in July 2015 following the White House Conference on Aging and is based upon Minnesota's statewide successful initiative, ACT on Alzheimer's. In the first year alone, 48 communities across 36 states joined DFA to help their communities become dementia friendly. There are now over 300 dementia friendly community efforts across the country.
Led by DFA, communities across the country are building a nationwide effort to educate Americans about dementia, equip business owners and first responders to recognize and assist those with memory loss, and empower people with Alzheimer's and dementia to engage independently and safely in community life for as long as possible.
DFA also serves as the U.S. licensee of the international Dementia Friends program, a global movement, developed by the Alzheimer's Society in the United Kingdom, that is changing the way people think, act and talk about dementia. A Dementia Friend is someone who, through viewing a series of online videos, learns about what it's like to live with dementia and then turns that understanding into action. From telling friends about the Dementia Friends program to visiting someone who is living with dementia, every action counts. Anyone of any age can be a Dementia Friend—we all have a part to play in creating dementia friendly communities!
Visit dementiafriendsusa.org and become a Dementia Friend today! Interested in starting a Dementia Friendly Community initiative? Contact Dementia Friendly America for resources and support! Check the DFA Getting Started webpage for additional information.