This is the second in a series of regular NewmarketToday columns in partnership with Alzheimer Society of York Region to increase awareness and understanding of dementia, as well as of the support, education, navigation and DAY programs available to people impacted by dementia.
For Karie Papillon, seeing the volunteers at the Aurora Seniors Centre more confident in making sure people living with dementia are being treated with care and compassion is one of the best things about becoming a dementia-friendly community (DFC).
“It’s been a joy,” said the adult and older adult program co-ordinator for the Town of Aurora. “I have seen an increase in patience and understanding,” said Papillon, who said volunteers have shared their knowledge with other Aurora Senior Centre members.
A DFC is a place where people living with dementia are understood, respected, and supported, said Jaime Cruz, the public education and community programs manager at the Alzheimer Society of York Region in Aurora.
“A DFC provides businesses an understanding of dementia and how to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for those living with a dementia and their care partners. Creating a DFC creates a calmer environment not only for the person living with dementia, but for their care partner. This allows the care partner to enter a business with ease knowing the staff are accepting of different behaviours or verbal expressions that may not be common.”
More than 24 Aurora Seniors Association volunteers, including those from the Aurora Seniors Centre, took part in the DFC training offered by Cruz, who came equipped with resources and a PowerPoint presentation, but most importantly, Papillon said, she came with time.
“Jaime had all the time in the world, which was wonderful,” Papillon said. “Jaime would have stayed there all day if that is what she needed to do.”
Volunteers shared their stories – stories about how they have personally been impacted by dementia as well as what they were seeing as volunteers: the person who repeated the same question or the person who could no longer find the program room. Papillon said volunteers were able to ask Cruz questions: What should we do when? Who should we call if?
“Jamie heard (those stories) and she was able to validate (them). Everyone felt it really helped. They all felt they walked out with knowledge.”
More than 17,000 York Region residents are currently living with dementia. While not considered a normal part of the aging process, age is the No. 1 risk factor for developing the disease.
And in York Region where for the first time there are more seniors than children, it’s important for businesses to support older adults as they age.
Because it takes a village to support our older adults, to “make them feel safe and made to feel accepted by the community,” Papillon said.
And that is the important part of a DFC, Cruz said.
“I would ideally like to see individuals living with dementia and their care partners be able to stroll throughout their community knowing that if the person living with dementia becomes lost or walks into a store alone, they will be greeted with dignity and respect. And that the care partner knows if their family member becomes lost, the community’s businesses know what they should do to ensure the person returns home safely.”
Sixty per cent of people living with dementia will becoming lost at some point, according to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Having local businesses take DFC training and learn about the disease and how to communicate with those living with it, will ensure that those who are lost will get home safely, Cruz said.
And training to become a DFC is easy, Cruz said.
There is no charge for businesses to become dementia-friendly certified. During the course, which 75 per cent of a business’ employees must participate in to become certified, participants will learn what dementia is and how to recognize, interact and communicate with someone living with it. Once a business is certified, they must take part in another session six months after the initial training.
Currently five businesses in York Region have become a DFC with the York Region public library branches being the first to do so.
“My goal is to have all our businesses in York Region trained as dementia-friendly communities,” Cruz said. “There is still so much stigma associated with dementia. The more I can bring awareness to our community businesses, the more individuals living with dementia can remain independent.”
Cruz said the DFC program is good for all types of businesses from banks and community centres to places of worships and first responders.
“There are no businesses that can’t be trained in DFC.”
Papillon said York Region businesses need to think of DFC as necessary training and that anyone who works with the public should take it.
For the volunteers from the Aurora Seniors Association, “it was not just worthwhile, but they were grateful they took it.” They are “empowered,” and have the “skills and knowledge,” to help people in their community who need more support.”
Being dementia friendly and letting people age at home will make it “a better place for everyone, a better community,” Papillon said.
Contact Jaime Cruz at [email protected] or 905-726-3477, ext. 232 to learn more about DFC and to sign your business up for the training.
