Welcome MCOA Membership Meeting 2/8/19 Dementia Facts 1 . Dementia - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

MCOA Membership Meeting 2/8/19

Welcome

Thank You to Our Hosts: Milford Senior Center

Dementia Facts

• 1. Dementia itself is not a disease – it’s actually

caused by lots of different diseases.

• 2. Dementia is not an inevitable part of getting
• lder – while it’s true that the majority of

people with dementia are over 65, the condition is not a normal part of getting older.

• 3. 1 IN 3 SENIORS dies with dementia – more

than breast cancer and prostrate cancer combined.

More Facts

• 4. Dementia is more than just memory loss – most

people associate dementia with memory loss, but the condition affects people in a wide variety of

• ways. Everyone’s experience of dementia is

different.

• 5. It’s possible to live an independent and active

life with dementia – there are many people in the US and across the world who are facing dementia head on and developing support mechanisms and strategies to live well with the condition.

• 6. Dementia has a bigger impact on women – with

more and more women living well into their 80s, 2/3rds of the people with the disease are women.

And More..

• 7. Dementia is a global issue – it’s a common

myth that dementia is only an issue in the western world. Dementia is a truly global health issue, affecting 46.8 million people worldwide.

• 8. There are no treatments to stop the

diseases that cause dementia – while some treatments can help people to live with their symptoms a little better, there are no treatments that slow or stop diseases like Alzheimer’s.

• 9. Investments in research for a cure are

insufficient.

So what are we doing about Dementia in MA?

Dementia Friendly Massachusetts

Phase One: Dementia Friendly Massachusetts Initiative – JFCS Phase Two: Dementia Friendly Massachusetts, 3yrs - 350,000.00

An initiative of the Massachusetts Councils on Aging

Mission Statement

Dementia Friendly Massachusetts is state-wide, grassroots movement comprised of organizations, individuals, and municipalities growing dementia friendly communities to become more inclusive and supportive of those living with dementia, their families, and care

• partners. Dementia Friendly

Massachusetts is a member of Dementia Friendly America.

Current Status

• 148 Communities engaged
• 15 Communities just starting out
• 33 Communities working on DF

and Age-Friendly – Better Together

How Do We Get there?

PARTNERSHIPS

MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs

How Does DFM Support You?

• Quarterly Idea Exchanges
• Registration open

@mcoaonline.com April, June, Sept, Dec 2019

• Webinars
• Direct Technical

Assistance

• New DFM Website

What is the Process of Becoming DF? Differs by Community

• Dementia Friends/Dementia

Champions Training

• Memory Café
• Dementia Awareness Night
• Videos
• Speakers

Continues….

• General Interest

Meeting

• Invite all of the

potential sectors/community

• Engage Town

Manager/Elected Leaders

• Fill the HS Gym

Pull together an Action Team – Formal or Informal

Use the Data at Hand

Decide What is Doable for You

What does it take to be “Recognized”?

• Consult with the DFM PM
• Create an Action Team/Leader
• Engage 3+ community sectors
• Utilize data from the MHAC
• Action Plan that includes PLWD
• Sign a Pledge* New with the 2018

grant

Pledge**

• Communities that have already

completed these steps will be grandfathered in and will be formally recognized for their work

• Recognition will be done by a MA “big

wig” at a MCOA Annual Meeting

DFM Communities in the House

• Any Comments
• Stories to Share
• Questions
• Suggestions
• Advice

Biggest Challenges?

• Engaging people living with Dementia
• Reaching out to underserved

communities

• Hispanic Communities 2 x more

likely

• African Americans 1.5 x more likely
• Helping people learn how to have the

“Dementia Talk”

Language Matters

• Frameworks Institute:

Reframing the Aging Narrative

• AARP Re-Imagine Campaign
• UK Dementia –Friendly

Media and Broadcast Guide 9/2018

According to people with Dementia and their families/caregivers, the media portrayals of Dementia…

• Support incorrect

presumptions about PLWD

• Increase stigma and fear
• Increase isolation by

potentially stopping people from getting help or coming to terms with diagnosis

Do’s and Don’ts of Dementia Speak: Words to Describe the Disease

• Challenging
• Disabling
• Life changing
• Stressful
• Unique
• Hopeless
• Unbearable
• Impossible
• Misery
• Tragic
• Plague
• Epidemic
• Living Death

Focus on..

• …The person LIVING

with the disease

• …the need for this

person to get “support”

• …the people LWD

who live healthy, productive lives sometimes for years

• Don’t define the

person by the disease

• Don’t talk about

feeding, dressing or

• ther passive terms
• Don’t suggest in any

way that a diagnosis is a death knell

What Comes from More Positive View of Dementia?

• Reduce Stigma – More People Seeking

Diagnosis/Treatment

• Opportunity to see that you can live well

with the disease

• Raise Awareness of Support groups and
• ther sources of support for families caring

for a loved one

• Stimulate wider discussion about what can

be done to make communities DF

Beth Solztberg LCSW, MBA

Jewish Family and Children’s Services

Beth Solzberg manages the Alzheimer’s/Related Disorders Family Support program and works as a coordinator with the Parkinson’s Family Support Program. Beth earned her MSW and MBA from the University of Chicago and a certificate in end-of-life care from the Smith College School

• f Social Work. She holds an advanced credential in hospice

and palliative care social work. Contact: BSoltzberg@jfcsboston.org