HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital – Dementia-Friendly Business Initiative

Overview

Individuals with dementia can face significant barriers to engaging in the social life of their community. Many find their local communities do not offer support or understanding for their condition; as a result, these individuals give up things they love to do out of anxiety or fear. Others lack confidence or feel they have nothing to contribute, and often no one tries to convince them otherwise. All too often, when people with dementia do find the courage to reach out, they are met with little or no response. Becoming a dementia-friendly community means empowering people with Dementia/Alzheimer’s to have high aspirations, confidence and a sense of knowing that they can contribute.

A talented 53-year-old woman within the community was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's disease. She was a successful lawyer in private practice, a city attorney, president of the Chamber of Commerce, county court commissioner and circuit court judge candidate. She had to abruptly stop practicing law, give up her driver’s license and rely on family and friends to help her with such mundane tasks as grocery shopping and counting change. Family members recognized that employees of local businesses did not understand her confusion and were not prepared to consistently convey respect and compassion to her and other customers with Dementia/Alzheimer’s due to their lack of awareness and understanding of this horrific disease.

This family’s experience, along with the realization that increasing numbers of folks with Dementia/Alzheimer’s are living longer, staying in their homes longer and are the current and future customers of businesses everywhere, prompted the development of this initiative. Its goals are to educate businesses in the county to provide the best possible customer service and help people with Dementia/Alzheimer’s disease to stay in their homes longer. The broader goal is to promote awareness of the disease and to create community-wide compassion and understanding.

Impact

The Dementia-Friendly Business Initiative created five train-the-trainer sessions to train 18 volunteers, who have provided education to 57 businesses and 714 employees in the county. The impact has been immediate. To better serve persons with Dementia/Alzheimer’s, the local police department is investigating ways they can identify homes where patients with Dementia/Alzheimer's reside. In addition, the Initiative developed the first Memory Café in September 2015. The new Café offers a safe, comfortable, engaging environment for those with early-stage memory loss, Dementia/Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. Each month, volunteers and staff plan a different topic to engage participants. In 10 months, they have had 13 participants. As an example of the positive difference the initiative is making, a young woman diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s disease absolutely “loves” to go to a specific restaurant. The employees at this restaurant have received training through the Dementia-Friendly Business Initiative and are especially understanding and supportive.

Lessons Learned

As the Initiative grew, it became apparent that a paid coordinator was needed to ensure sustainability. Through a grant received from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and contracted through the Aging and Disability Resource Center, 10 to 12 paid hours per week are allocated to coordinate business training, facilitate monthly coalition meetings, schedule Dementia Talks and assist in planning and promoting the monthly Memory Café.

Future Goals

To address the identified need for the development of the Early Stage Dementia Support Group, this group met for the first time in June 2016 with future monthly meetings being planned. To address the identified need for community education beyond business owners and employees, Dementia Talks are now being provided with various topics, e.g., “Signs of Dementia” and “Communication Tips for Individuals with Memory Loss.” As of June 2016, more than 50 people have attended these educational sessions, with more sessions being planned.

Initiative leaders currently are looking at planning a yearly event to gather all persons that suffer with dementia and Alzheimer’s for a day of fun with their fellow community members and caregivers. It will take place at a local campground, and include games and activities such as a pontoon ride, bonfire, and bean bags.

Contact: Brandalee Sikora
Director of Volunteer Services
Telephone: 715-717-7439
Email: brandalee.sikora@hshs.org