Join a growing movement of people who are helping fellow community members living with dementia. A little support can make a big difference in their lives. Be a Dementia Friend! The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library will be hosting an informational session to learn about this worldwide movement, about living with dementia, and the simple things you can do to support someone living with the disease. 

The one-hour session is a discussion led by a Dementia Friends Champion. It is not a training session. You’ll learn what dementia is, what it’s like to live with the disease, and some tips for communicating with people who have dementia. Everyone who attends is asked to turn their new understanding of dementia into a practical action that can help someone living in your community. The action can be as big or as small as you choose—every action counts! 

Dementia Friends is a global movement that is changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. Developed by the Alzheimer’s Society in the United Kingdom, the Dementia Friends initiative is underway in Wisconsin and across the United States. By helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects families, each of us can make a difference for people touched by dementia. 

The session will be held in the library’s Community Room at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater on Thursday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend. Registration is requested. Please visit whitewaterlibrary.org and click on “Events – Registration Forms” to register in advance. You may also email sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or call 262-458-2782 to register, or with any questions.