The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that over 200,000 people in Wisconsin care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in their homes.  These caregivers provide millions of hours of unpaid care each year valued at $7 billion. This care allows older Wisconsinites to stay in their homes, where costs are lower and both parties are more comfortable. 

Dementia caregiving can be physically demanding and time-consuming, and caregivers often experience high levels of stress.  With numbers rising, Wisconsin recognizes a public health emergency.   A long-range plan has been created which stresses the importance of community support.   The Alzheimer’s Association has responded to the health care emergency with a program called the Healthy Brain Initiative, a large component of which is educating, engaging and mobilizing the community.   Whitewater’s volunteer group called Dementia Friendly Community Initiative (DFIC) strives to do just that.  Here are some services we offer:

• Rockin’ Respite     Twice a month, caregivers can drop off their loved ones for a day of activities, socializing, snacks and one-on-one time with a volunteer.  The caregiver is free to do errands, make appointments for themselves, see friends or family or just take a nap.
• Purple Angel     The PA program offers training to employees in stores, restaurants, and offices of all kinds on how to understand and respond to persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) who may be having difficulty navigating places of business.
• Dementia Friends     A one-hour small group meeting is offered to answer the question “What is dementia?”  A sample of what you will learn is the Bookcase Analogy which explains how the brain loses ability to perform logical and sequential activities while the emotional responsive part of the brain is still fully functional.
• Thanks You Gifts     Caregivers are honored and thanked for all they do for their loved ones with a gift of appreciation during Caregivers Month in November.

Whitewater’s DFIC would like to offer more activities such as twice a year outings to museums, galleries, workshops etc. for caregivers and their loved ones.  With more volunteers committing only three hours twice a month, we could offer Respite to more people and give more caregivers a break.  Volunteers find that by giving a little of their time, they gain an understanding of Alzheimer’s and related dementias which might affect you or me when we least expect it.  

Please contact Seniors in the Park to learn more about our work.  Learn if you might want to be part of that essential community support for persons with dementia and their caregivers.  Call or email Jennifer, director of  Seniors in the Park, at 262 473 0535 or  Jackson@whitewater-wi.gov

For more information:    https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/non-dhs/dph/dementia-plan-2024-2028.pdf
https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/273/Seniors-In-the-Park

This article is submitted by Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, a program of Whitewater Seniors in the Park to help educate the community about dementia and to support patients and caregivers.  More committee members are needed!  Contact Jackson@whitewater-wi.gov or call Jennifer at 262 473 0535.  

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