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Dementia-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh

About Dementia-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh

Dementia-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh is a collaboration built to create awareness and engagement throughout the community about dementia and how we can support those living with dementia. We provide education, create opportunities for engagement and advocate for the needs of those living with dementias and their care partners.

Our efforts began as a result of our region’s launch of Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh’s Action Plan in October 2017.  Two of the plan’s Action Items directly related to Dementia-Friendly Communities; Creating Dementia Friendly Conversations and Providing Dementia Friendly Trainings.

As part of our initial efforts, we surveyed professionals in the field of dementia care, care partners, those living with dementia and other community members to determine our community’s strength and areas for potential growth.  As part of our efforts, we joined the Dementia Friendly America Network.  This is a national network of communities seeking to ensure that communities across the United States are equipped to support those living with dementia and their care partners.

Dementia-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh remains an initiative of SWPPA and Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh, and as one of the eight Dementia Friendly communities in Pennsylvania, they are also supported by the newly created state-led Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania.

What We Are Doing

Dementia-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh is working with our partners to provide educational opportunities and resources for various sectors of our business, organizational and governmental communities on how to create safe, respectful and engaging environments for those living with dementia and their care partners.

In partnership with Presbyterian SeniorCare Network and Dementia360, Dementia-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh is now offering a free, one-hour training for local businesses, organizations, and workplaces who are interested in learning how to create a more dementia-friendly environment and experience in their workplace for those living with dementia and their care partners in our community. In this training, you will learn what dementia is and facts about Alzheimer’s disease, recognize the signs of dementia, learn tips for communicating & interacting with a person living with dementia, learn tips for creating a dementia-friendly physical space, and learn about local and national resources. Your business, organization, or workplace will then be certified as Dementia-Friendly and will receive a window-cling to display for the community. Please see our Dementia Friendly @ Work Flyer to learn more or email [email protected] if interested!

One of our partners, Jewish Healthcare Foundation, serves as the statewide coordinators for Dementia Friends and Dementia Friends Champions already having over 10,000 Friends and over 200 Champions.  Our other partners have contributed additional trainings and leadership to this collaborative.

Introducing the Community Toolkit!

This toolkit is a great way to educate our Greater Pittsburgh community on what dementia is; ways to be inclusive, welcoming, and supportive to people living with dementia and their care partners; and how to volunteer and advocate.  It provides local and national resources, as well.  Please click on the link below to download the Community Toolkit.

Community Toolkit

Get Involved

Become a Dementia Friend

Join Dementia Friends Pennsylvania part of the global movement that is changing the way we think, act and talk about dementia. To become a Dementia Friend, attend an interactive 60-minute Dementia Friends Information Session led by a Dementia Friends Champion. The session will cover five key messages about dementia, touch on what it is like to live with dementia and identify communication tips to use in the community. As a Dementia Friend you will turn your understanding into a practical action that can help individuals living with dementia in your community. The action can be as big or small as you choose because every action counts!

A Guide for Getting Started
Find a Dementia Friends Information Session

Join Dementia-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh

Dementia Friendly Greater Pittsburgh is available to help you champion Dementia-Friendly efforts in your sector. Ways we can support you:

Education

Resources

Advocacy & Support

If you’d like to join our efforts and workgroup, please email Deanna or Kim at [email protected].

Partners

Our Vision

To make Greater Pittsburgh a region where those living with dementia and their care partners are able to live safe, engaged lives; where they are informed and included in the everyday life of their community.

Dementia Friendly America

Dementia-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh is a member of the Dementia Friendly America network, sharing in a common mission of fostering dementia friendly communities throughout the U.S.

Dementia Friendly America® is a multi- sector, national collaborative on a mission to foster communities that are equipped to support people living with dementia, their family, friends, and care partners by working to become “dementia friendly.”

Connect with Us

Dementia-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh Committee Chairs:

  • Deanna Page, Dementia360, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network
  • Kimberly Maddox, UPMC Community Health Choices

Email: [email protected]

© 2023 · SWPPA

  • Resources
  • About
    • Our Board
    • Committees
    • Financials
  • Membership
    • Join Us
    • Our Members
  • Age-Friendly
  • Dementia-Friendly
  • Education
  • Policy
    • Policy Action Center
  • Events
  • Contact