The Whitewater Dementia Friendly Community Initiative (WDFCI) is excited to announce the awarding of the Purple Angel recognition to Studio 84 and Seniors in the Park.
Studio 84 is a nonprofit art studio that supports the creative development of people with disabilities. Some students come for the day programing and others come to create a business selling their art. Artistic mentors assist them with it all and look at their abilities to help them be successful with their art. They opened doors in July of 2009.
The Seniors in the Park program has been in existence for 38 years. Its mission is to promote and enhance a vital aging community by providing programming and services that enrich the lives of older adults.
Studio 84 
Seniors in the Park
The Purple Angel is an international symbol recognized around the world, which says employees have received dementia awareness training and are sensitive to customers and care partners who are affected by dementia or Alzheimer’s. An engaged community seeks to honor, value and include all of its members. Look for the Purple Angel award wherever you go. If you don’t see it, ask “Why not?”
A Dementia Friendly Community is one that engages people with dementia, making them feel welcome, respected and improving their quality of life, while also supporting their unique interests and those of care partners and family members. This enables those with dementia to safely find their way around town, access local facilities, and maintain their social connections. This sense of belonging eases the fear and isolation associated with dementia and increases access to the resources people need to live well with dementia. By helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects families, each of us can make a difference for the people touched by dementia.
The number of businesses taking the steps necessary to be designated as dementia friendly is continuing to grow. One of the principal purposes for the WDFCI is providing free training programs to those who live and work in Whitewater, as well as businesses, faith communities and organizations serving area residents.
The WDFCI mission is to create a Dementia Friendly Community that features effective, ongoing programs to include and support individuals with dementia and their care partners. To-date the WDFCI has offered memory screens; published an informational brochure; started a memory café, a twice monthly respite site; has provided, in partnership with Mulberry Glen, Dementia Live, a virtual dementia experience; and is working with the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library to provide distraction boxes for checkout. The Whitewater Community Foundation has given the group two grants to assist with startup costs.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the estimated number of people in Walworth County with Alzheimer’s/dementia in 2020 is 2,132 of which approximately 200 live in Whitewater. By 2040, the county estimate will have grown to 4,432. It is important to know that Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging, however aging is a risk factor
For more information, to become Purple Angel recognized or to join the WDFCI, please contact Deb Weberpal at 262-473-0535 or email dweberpal@whitewater-wi.gov or check out our Facebook page Whitewater Dementia Friendly Community Initiative. The WDFCI is assisted and supported by the Alzheimer’s Association of Southeast Wisconsin and the Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, Inc – Walworth County.
The City of Whitewater provides efficient and high quality services which support living, learning, playing and working in an exceptional community. Visit www.whitewater-wi.gov for community information and updates.
