What are Dementia Friendly Communities?
People with dementia—an umbrella term for a group of illnesses that can affect memory, communication, and daily living—often need ongoing support. While this support can come from individuals, like caregivers and family members, it can also come from communities.
With this in mind, multiple cities and towns have been taking steps to become “dementia-friendly communities.” This generally involves making communities more accessible for individuals with dementia, as well as providing plenty of support options for those living with this condition. While not all areas may be considered dementia-friendly, there can be many ways to find care for those with dementia, such as online therapy to address any related mental health challenges they may be experiencing.
An overview of dementia
You may have heard of Alzheimer’s disease, an illness that usually involves gradual memory loss, changes in thinking, and trouble completing daily tasks. Alzheimer’s tends to be the most common type of dementia, but it’s not the only one.
“Dementia” can be seen as an umbrella term for several conditions that can affect people’s thinking abilities, communication, and daily functioning. Although these can have different causes, they often lead to the following symptoms.
Symptoms of dementia
- Forgetfulness
- Trouble expressing thoughts and ideas
- Trouble with balance and movement
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Trouble making decisions, solving problems, and planning
While these symptoms may start out mild, they often get worse as time goes by. People with dementia usually require more care as the illness progresses. Those with late-stage dementia may need round-the-clock help with tasks like eating, dressing, moving around, and going to the bathroom.
What are dementia friendly communities?
While there is no known cure for dementia, it is often possible for those living with it to have a better quality of life. That said, this can depend on having access to important facilities.
Dementia friendly communities are facilities for people living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
- Health care
- Community groups, meetups, and other places to socialize
- In-home support services
- Assisted living environments
- Help with budgeting and financial planning
- Educational resources
While individual actions can be helpful, they may not always be enough to address all these needs. There are estimated to be almost 10 million new dementia cases each year, and larger-scale action may be needed to support and care for all those affected.
Given this, some cities and towns are working to make life easier for those living with dementia, their loved ones, and their care partners. These are commonly known as dementia-friendly communities.
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What makes a community dementia-friendly? The organization Dementia Friendly America lays out 10 areas of dementia friendliness:
Local infrastructure
This generally refers to making aspects of the physical environment, like transportation and public spaces, more accessible for people with dementia.
Businesses
This might involve dementia-friendly customer service in local businesses and policies that make it easier to work as a professional dementia caregiver.
Legal services
A dementia-friendly community might provide services to help people with dementia plan ahead and lay out instructions for their care.
Financial services
These are services that can help people with dementia plan their finances so they can remain independent for as long as possible.
Community members
Education may help people better understand dementia. A dementia-friendly community might use educational programs or awareness campaigns to help locals better support their fellow community members.
Independent living
Having access to care may help people with dementia live independently for a longer period of time. For this reason, dementia-friendly communities might also emphasize providing widespread access to at-home help.
Faith-based communities
These are often a staple of dementia-friendly communities, offering a social environment and spiritual support.
Ongoing care
A dementia-friendly community might provide access to resources that help dementia patients maintain their well-being throughout their illness.
Memory support
Dementia-friendly community settings may offer a wide range of services to support people with memory loss. Some examples include assisted living facilities, home-based services, and hospice care.
Emergency planning
A dementia-friendly community might also consider the unique needs of people with dementia when training first responders and making emergency plans.
Addressing dementia as an individual
Through the dementia-friendly movement, a growing number of communities are making changes to help people with dementia. While this is often done by local governments, individuals can also take steps to build awareness and provide support.
Whether you have a friend or family member with dementia or want to support those who do, you can:
- Educate yourself and others on the realities of living with dementia
- Be patient and use simple language when interacting with people with dementia
- Volunteer for organizations that help people with dementia
- Participate in events to raise dementia awareness in your community
- Support dementia-friendly businesses, public spaces, policies, and services
Some nonprofit groups provide other resources for supporting people with dementia. For example, Dementia Friends, a project by the Alzheimer’s Society, offers in-person and online training to become a “dementia friend” in your community.
Taking care of your own mental health as a caregiver of people living with dementia
It can be harder to support others if you’re managing your own mental health concerns, especially as a caregiver. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC, over half of dementia caregivers have high levels of emotional stress, and nearly half experience depression.
Whether you’re a community advocate or a caregiver, you may want to take steps to maintain your own mental health. Therapy can be a source of ongoing mental health support, practical advice, and healthy strategies to manage stress.
It can sometimes take a few tries to find the right therapist for you. This might be tricky if you’re juggling a busy schedule, but online therapy may make it easier. Platforms like BetterHelp let you change therapists whenever you like, at no extra cost, for any reason.
Studies have found that online therapy may improve the mental health of dementia caregivers. A 2023 study looked at 81 people caring for family members with dementia and other chronic conditions. The caregivers were placed in either a control group or an online therapy program. Those in the online therapy group typically saw reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms.
Takeaway
What is the model of dementia-friendly communities?
Dementia-friendly communities are places or communities where people with dementia along with their caregivers are being empowered, included and supported in society, and fully understand their rights. It is a place that encompasses the values of dementia friendliness and allows people to make friends who are going through similar challenges. When living with dementia, friends that understand can be a significant comfort in a potentially scary time.
What is an example of a dementia-friendly environment?
A dementia-friendly environment is a place where there are bright-colored furnishings and furniture including tables, chairs and even beds. The colors on the floors and the wall should also be contrasting.
How can you help someone with Alzheimer's disease and dementia?
You can help somebody with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia by building quiet times into the day, together with other activities. Put up photographs and important objects around your house to make the person feel more at home and secure.
What are dementia-friendly communities?
Dementia-friendly communities are places where people can go to meet other people with dementia, caregivers, and loved ones and find community through a difficult experience. These communities may also offer resources or education to help people through their experience. Some organizations are dedicated to helping people find clinical trials or potential treatments that are being researched to slow symptoms. Although there is no current cure for dementia, communities open up a place for all to be curious and look toward the future with hope.
Dementia-friendly community is a term that can also apply to larger communities, like cities. These communities understand the impact of dementia and work toward ensuring proper funding is put into research, clinical care, and mental health support for people with these conditions. Cities that have many resources for dementia and hold dementia awareness events may be considered dementia-friendly cities.
What does a dementia-friendly community look like?
Dementia-friendly communities can look different depending on their different aims as a community space. Some organizations aim to look for a cure for dementia and involve the community in this process, whereas others may offer support groups or a place for people to talk to doctors and professionals for guidance. A dementia-friendly community can also look like a city where many resources have been put in place to support people with dementia and their loved ones. Dementia-friendly spaces also value caregivers and their role in supporting people through their experiences.
What is the most dementia-friendly city in the world?
Bruges, Belgium is considered the most dementia-friendly city in the world by multiple sources. The city has put a significant amount of effort into ending the stigma of talking about dementia and the town’s businesses and organizations show their support with frequent donations and displaying a red ribbon in their shop windows for dementia awareness. The city also holds fundraising events to support dementia research. People who receive healthcare in the country are treated with the best technology available in hospitals and hospice care, and caregivers are highly appreciated.
What are the principles of a dementia-friendly community?
Each community is different, but some principles that might be part of a community like this could include the following:
- Respect of people with different mental and physical health needs
- Promotion of educational materials about dementia in schools, clinics, and other public spaces
- Value of research and clinical studies on dementia
- Effective mental and physical healthcare facilities that can be easily accessed by the public and those that need them
- Sufficient hospice care and pay for caregivers
Do dementia villages work?
Researchers still have insufficient evidence that dementia villages work for everyone. Some of these places may be effective for some people, especially if there is funding and sufficient staff. However, factors like poor staff performance, a lack of single rooms, and sub-par living conditions could do more harm than good if these villages are not properly managed. Funding for quality dementia care may be an area to look at in the future for dementia patients.
What should dementia-friendly communities promote?
Dementia-friendly communities promote acceptance, diversity, disability rights, and community. These communities understand that dementia is complex and often impacts more than the individual with the condition. These communities also offer support and guidance to caregivers and loved ones of those with dementia.
Where is the best place for someone with dementia?
The best place for someone with dementia is where they are comfortable, cared for, and safe. This place might be a hospice home, their own home with a caregiver, or a dementia village. Each person is different. Before dementia progresses, working with the person to develop their care plan and end-of-life wishes can be important. Having a therapist and lawyer present may be helpful to prevent elder abuse in these situations.
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