Page 28 - Healthy Brain Initiative, State and Local Public Health Partnerships to Address Dementia: The 2018-2023 Road Map

SPOTLIGHT

PUBLIC HEALTH ROLE IN DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES

The establishment of dementia-friendly communities is living with dementia and their caregivers are crucial
a growing movement in the U.S. and around the world. to effective planning, and they can be compelling
The movement mobilizes government, businesses, advocates for implementation. Plans should set
and civic groups to form a coalition and pledge to measurable objectives and designate stakeholders
actively make changes to support people living responsible for achieving progress toward goals.
with dementia and their caregivers. State and local
public health organizations are uniquely positioned How can public health contribute to the dementia-
to become coalition partners and to help evaluate friendly communities movement? The actions in this
progress toward goals. Road Map are ways public health and its partners can
help ensure affected people have safe, supportive
Currently, about 70% of people with Alzheimer’s and environments. Action P-5 calls on public health
other dementias live in community settings, with an to “engage public and private partners in ongoing
estimated one-quarter of them living alone. A common planning efforts to establish services and policies that
preference for persons with dementia is to remain as promote supportive communities and workplaces.”
engaged and independent for as long as possible. Additional actions to support dementia-friendly
Supports that may help people living with dementia communities include:
stay active and engaged can range from access to
public transportation, interaction with service providers » Educate the public (E-1, E-3);
and friends that use effective communications » Analyze the community support needs of people
techniques, as well as opportunities to be involved in living with dementia and their caregivers (M-3,
community life. As cognitive and physical impairment M-5);
progresses, high-quality healthcare and home- and
community-based services become more important to » Promote the use of evidence-informed practices
well-being. Around-the-clock care may be necessary and educational resources (E-6, E-7); and
for people in the final stages of Alzheimer’s dementia
» Build the knowledge and skills of professionals
as they tend to become bed-bound.
who interact with people living with dementia and
To realize their potential, coalitions need a plan to their caregivers (W-2, W-5, W-6). •
change neighborhood environments and mobilize
partners to adopt promising practices for supporting
people affected by dementia. Insights from people

22 Healthy Brain Initiative State and Local Public Health Partnerships to Address Dementia: The 2018–2023 Road Map