MAK-AIRS

Dementia Friend

Caregivers and their families are often looking for reliable resources.  Dementia Friends is a newly adopted initiative by the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging(SLAAA), designed to promote public awareness about dementia and to help create dementia-friendly communities throughout the city.  Dementia Friends was founded by the Alzheimer's Society in the United Kingdom in 2013, and has grown to over 3 million registered Dementia Friends volunteers worldwide.     

The 2019 AIRS I &R Training Manual states, “Aging is an active and ongoing process and there are a variety of factors that impact the aging process including genetic, environment, existing health conditions or disabilities, and life style. While the aging process is different for everyone, understanding some of the common changes older adults experience and how they impact their lives can help Community Resource Specialist better serve older adult consumers.” (VOLUME 1: The Community Resource Specialist, page 297)

So what is a Dementia Friend, and what do we do? 

A Dementia Friend is someone who commits to learning more about dementia, and turns that understanding into action.  There is no action too small, and they can range from educating others about dementia and the Dementia Friends initiative, to spending time with or assisting someone with dementia.  The program is predicated on 5 Key Messages:

1.  Dementia is not a normal part of aging.  Not everyone who grows old

     develops dementia.

2.  Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain.  Alzheimer's changes the

     chemistry and structure of the brain, causing the brain cells to die off.

3.  Dementia is not just about memory problems.  Dementia can affect the way

     people think, speak, and perform everyday tasks.

4.  It is possible to have a good quality of life with dementia.  Many people

     with dementia continue to drive, socialize, and hold down satisfying jobs.

5.  There's more to a person than the dementia.  In the same way that we see a

     person with diabetes or cancer as a person first, we should also see those

     affected by dementia as a person first.

Listed below are a few effective communication techniques described in the AIRS Training Manuel, all of these have worked well for the Information and Referral (I&R) staff at SLAAA.

• Establish respect by using the client’s formal name or ask what they prefer.

• Avoid rushing the conversation and expect several call backs for the same information.

• Always be aware of cultural and generational differences. It’s better to have a long conversation to build trust.

So how do you become a Dementia Friend?

If you want more information, please call the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging at (314) 612-5918 and ask for Lane Stultz.  Alternatively, individuals can go online to dementiafriendsusa.org and watch a series of videos.  These videos will highlight some of the difficulties of living with dementia, and ask individuals to turn that understanding into action.  At the end of the information session or webinar, each participant will receive a certificate of completion and will become a registered Dementia Friend. 

All of the  I & R specialist in our office are certified Dementia Friends and have become familiar with the dementia services offered in your area. The SLAAA office receives a great number of referrals from caregivers who contacted the Elder Locator and the United Way of Greater St. Louis (2-1-1) for memory services. Please consider joining our efforts in making the city of St. Louis and other cities in the AIRS network a dementia friendly community. 
~ Written by Lane Stultz, BS - Specialist on Aging I