Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce Newsletter August | Page 13

DATE: July 25, 2018
TO: Sparta Chamber of Commerce
FROM: Julie Anderson, RN MSN
RE: Dementia-Friendly Community
Monroe County Dementia-Friendly Community Initiative
Monroe County Health Department is pleased to announce a new project, called the Monroe
County Dementia-Friendly Community Initiative. The idea for the project was based off of a
state-wide effort to better support those with dementia. Dementia-Friendly Communities are
places where individuals with dementia are able to live good lives, can live as independently as
possible, continue to be part of their communities, are met with understanding, given support
where necessary. Additionally, dementia-friendly communities build infrastructure to support
and provide services to individuals with dementia.
With the aging population, the number of individuals with dementia in the community is
expected to grow. In 2015, 16% of Monroe County residents were age 65 or older. By 2020, it is
estimated that nearly 30% of county residents will be the 65 and older, with that proportion
remaining until year 2040.
More and more businesses are beginning to respond to the impact of dementia on both customers
and employees. Customer service and human resource strategies have begun to address the
questions of how to meet the needs of customers with dementia and their care partners, as well as
the needs of employees who are caring for someone with the disease. With 70-90% of people
with dementia living at home, they and their family care partners will choose businesses that are
easy to navigate and that have helpful, aware staff. Dementia-friendly business will help retain
existing customers and employees and attract new ones. Lost productivity and time off costs (i.e.
replacing caregiving employees, workday interruptions, absenteeism, and shifts from full-time to
part-time work) are estimated to be as high as $34 billion annually.
As part of this initiative, the Monroe County Health Department and the Monroe County
Dementia-Friendly Coalition, are providing free, 30 minute education sessions for businesses on
how to become Dementia-Friendly. For questions about the Monroe County Dementia-Friendly
Community Initiative, please contact Julie Anderson, Public Health Nurse, at 269-8666.