Safety Awareness: Creating a Dementia Friendly Home
What is Dementia Friendly!? Let me spill the tea:
Dementia Friendly is a global initiative aimed to change perspectives and attitudes towards dementia. This movement originated in Japan and has spread like wild-fire to the United Kingdom, Africa, Australia, and the United States.
There are 5 key messages included in the Dementia Friends program:
- Dementia is not a natural part of aging
- Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain
- It is not just about losing your memory
- People can live well with dementia
- There is more to the person than the dementia
The most important message about this movement is: It is critical to include the person living with dementia!
We must be open to listening to their lived experiences, needs, and requests. This helps to create a community & environment they feel safe in. “Nothing about us, without us” concept.
Essentially, the person living with dementia is at the center of this movement! [I love this]
At my recent State Aging and Dementia training, we learned all about the importance of creating a dementia friendly environment and home.
Creating a dementia friendly home can help the person navigate their surroundings in a safe way and assists the family in being proactive in planning. Any modifications should be thoughtful and have a person-centered approach.
I’ve developed a helpful resource just for you! Take a look at the downloadable Dementia Friendly Home Tip Sheet below. This is to offer a starting point for creating a dementia friendly home & environment:
Keep in mind, each person’s needs will vary and you should speak with them about their personal preferences. This tip sheet is not exhaustive, but should be a guide to making simple changes that make a world of a difference!
(Reference: Alzheimer’s Society, https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/)