FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--One in nine people over 65 years of age have dementia, and about one-half of people over 85 have some form of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease. In response to this escalating statistic, First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth is leading the charge to create dementia friendly communities across Tarrant County, beginning with Fort Worth.
Following the prescribed protocols of Dementia Friendly America, FUMCFW is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association of North Texas to help prepare The City of Fort Worth to join communities across the nation now actively preparing for the increasing numbers of people who will have dementia as the general population ages. “By facilitating education and strategic planning for individuals, businesses, and organizations in every sector of community life, we will work together to serve and support people with dementia and their caregivers,” says Linda Abel, RN, program director of Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support programming at FUMCFW.
The Dementia Friendly America initiative is a multi-sector, national collaborative of more than 35 leading organizations catalyzing a movement and set of best practices to foster “dementia friendly” communities across the United States. By becoming a dementia friendly city, we will
- Raise awareness of and develop respect and inclusion for people with dementia,
- Offer services and resources throughout all areas of the community to ensure meaningful access to services that will enhance quality of life,
- Support and educate people with dementia, their care partners, and families from diagnosis through disease progression, and
- Promote meaningful engagement in community life.
Attendees will learn about the specific steps we will be taking to begin actively working together to improve our community and system capabilities for dementia friendly practices to optimize the health, well-being, and involvement of people with dementia and their care partners. All are welcome at the free public event; no registration is required. For more information about Dementia Friendly America, visit dfamerica.org.
