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.

Image of the Purple Angel logo
 

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

Healthy Brain Initiative Toolkit
 

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:

Reports

Local Health Department Dementia-Friendly Efforts Summary Report, P-01269F (PDF)

For more information

Stay up to date on the latest news about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Join our email list.

Questions about the State Dementia Plan? Email dhsdementiawebmail@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

Join Our Email List

Sign up to receive email notices about the new State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia news.

Have a question about the State Dementia Plan? Send us an email at dhsdementiawebmail@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

Glossary

 
Last revised December 30, 2022