Dementia Care: Building Dementia-Friendly Communities Toolkit
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are a growing public health issue. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) offers a toolkit with steps for building a dementia-friendly community. Building Dementia-Friendly Communities, P-01000 (PDF) offers information, resources, and lessons learned by those already working toward this goal.
The toolkit is a joint effort between:
- DHS.
- The Alzheimer’s Association of Southeastern Wisconsin.
- AARP Wisconsin.
- Local communities throughout the state that have begun their own dementia-friendly projects.
This user-friendly resource guide features several programs already at work in Wisconsin to create dementia-friendly communities. It includes information for:
- Professionals.
- Businesses.
- Public health entities.
- Families.
- Individuals with dementia
You’ll also find resources and services available from state organizations and programs. Use this order form for a printed copy of the toolkit.
Toolkit chapters
- Foreword by Kitty Rhoades, Former Secretary, Department of Health Services, P-01000-INTRO (PDF)
- Executive Summary, P-01000-INTRO (PDF)
- Using the Toolkit, P-01000-INTRO (PDF)
- Shifting Our Perceptions of Dementia, P-01000-SOPD (PDF)
- Dementia-Friendly Communities, P-01000-DFC (PDF)
- Public Health as a Key Partner, P-01000-PHKP (PDF)
- Dementia’s Impact, P-01000-DI (PDF)
- Wisconsin-Specific Organization and Service Resources, P-01000-SOSR (PDF)
- Wisconsin-Specific Community Program Resources, P-01000-SCPR (PDF)
- References and Resources, P-01000-RR (PDF)
Specific Strategies for Community Members, P-01000
- Business Sector, P-01000-BS (PDF)—Local chambers of commerce, general business settings, banks and credit unions, grocery stores, and restaurants.
- Community Organizations Sector, P-01000-COS (PDF)—Community, civic and other organizations, faith communities, and sports and recreational programs.
- Health Care Sector, P-01000-HCS (PDF)—Hospitals, primary care clinics, pharmacists, physical therapy, occupational therapy and home health, dentists, residential care providers, and dementia agencies and programs.
- Public Services Sector, P-01000-PSS (PDF)—Office on Aging/Aging and Disability Resource Centers, adult protective services, county crisis response, senior nutrition programs, law enforcement, first responders, community environments, city planner/architect, public signage, streets and sidewalks, mayors, parks, public transportation, libraries, senior centers, museums, community gardens, schools, and higher education.
Dementia-friendly guidelines
The toolkit also provides dementia-friendly guidelines for:
- Dentists, P-01269A (PDF)
- Faith Communities, P-01269B (PDF)
- Grocery Stores, P-01269C (PDF)
- Health Departments, P-01269D (PDF)
- Law Enforcement and First Responders, P-01269E (PDF)
- Pharmacists, P-01269G (PDF)
- Restaurants, P-01269H (PDF)
Reports
Local Health Department Dementia-Friendly Efforts Summary Report, P-01269F (PDF)
For more information
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Questions about the State Dementia Plan? Email dhsdementiawebmail@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
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