Dementia Friends Minnesota
NSAP recently procured a grant from the Minnesota Board on Aging to disseminate dementia information and to educate the public in our service area through the Dementia Friends network. Dementia Friends is a global movement that is striving to create more dementia friendly communities by changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. Developed by the Alzheimer’s Society in the United Kingdom, Dementia Friends is underway in Minnesota and across the United States. By helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects people, each of us can make a difference for someone living with dementia.
Approximately 91,000 Minnesotans age 65+ are living with Alzheimer's. Dementia Friends is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia, and as a Dementia Friends Champion, North Shore Area Partners will be offering Dementia Friends Informational Sessions fall of 2022 that will help you learn about dementia and the small ways you can help. From telling friends about the program to visiting someone you know living with dementia, every action counts.
Anyone interested in attending a Dementia Friends Session should contact homecare@nsapartners.org or call 218-353-1464 with inquiries.
What Makes You a Dementia Friend?
You become a Dementia Friend by attending a one-hour informational session to learn the five key messages about dementia, what it’s like to live with the disease, and how to turn your understanding into action that supports people living with dementia.
What Happens at the Information Session?
The one-hour session is a face-to-face discussion led by a North Shore Area Partners staff member; it’s not a formal training or education session. The session is informal and includes fun activities and interaction. You’ll learn what dementia is and tips for communicating with people who have dementia. Everyone who attends is asked to consider a practical action that can help someone in their community. The action can be big or as small — every action counts!
Remember...
You don’t need to be a dementia expert to become a Dementia Friend. You don’t need to know someone with dementia to become a Dementia Friend. After attending the session, you decide whether becoming a Dementia Friend is right for you.