Local experts to speak about Alzheimer's at March 26 meeting
Rotary Club of Edina will feature local speakers giving information Alzheimer's at the Thursday, March 26, meeting. Debbie Richman of the Alzheimer's Association and Patti Hankes from ACT on Alzheimer's will speak about "Alzheimer's in Your Community."
David Clynes will give his classification talk at the meeting.
The Rotary Club of Edina meets at 12:15 p.m. Thursdays at the Edina Country Club. All are welcome. Cost for lunch and the program is $18.
Learn more about "Alzheimer's in Your Community" at the Rotary Club of Edina at the Thursday, March 26, meeting. Featured speakers will be Debbie Richman, vice president of Education and Outreach at the Alzheimer's Association Minnesota-North Dakota. Their metro office is located in Edina. And Patti Hankes of Edina's ACT on Alzheimer's group will also speak.
The Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-North Dakota has been providing services, information, and advocacy for more than 30 years to people with dementia, their families and health care providers. This chapter is one of seven founding chapters of the National Alzheimer's Association, headquartered in Chicago. It was started by family caregivers who came together around a common need of getting support and help for their loved ones with dementia. Since 1979, the group's donor-supported, nonprofit Alzheimer’s Association has provided reliable information and care consultation; created supportive services for families; increased funding for dementia research; and influenced public policy changes.
Their mission: To eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
Their vision: A world without Alzheimer's disease.
For more information, visit www.alz.org/mnnd/index.asp.
Community organizations in Edina have built connections tied to their mutual focus on the needs of older adult residents. Two partners, the Normandale Center for Healing and Wholeness and the Edina Resource Center, are calling on their strong network with other providers and social service agencies to center attention on building a dementia-supportive community. Through intentional outreach to government services and resources, public schools, businesses, social service providers, faith community, senior housing providers, health care, legal services, and residents, a core community action team is being assembled. “We’re taking an all in approach,” said co-facilitator, Patti Hankes, Center for Healing and Wholeness. “We want to reach, invite, and inform all who live, work, go to school, or worship in Edina and let them know about our collective effort to address the impact of dementia in our community.”
The Edina action team will follow the guided process of the ACT on Alzheimer’s Dementia Capable Community Toolkit and take an intergenerational approach to the work. “School district staff and students will be involved, and youth in faith communities are interested in participating,” noted co-facilitator Carrie Cabe, Edina Resource Center. Another approach will be to reach outside the care services sector, aided by the team member who directs the local chamber of commerce. “She can engage the retail, hospitality, and other segments of the business community when we get into the toolkit’s survey process,” said Cabe.
In May, the action team is affirming their work plan, developing a marketing/communications strategy, and identifying other individuals and organizations to invite for the “convening” phase. A community-wide kick-off will be held on June 10 and, by August, the team will be conducting survey interviews.
Nearly one in every four persons in Edina is age 60 or older. The action team recognizes that the community needs to be better prepared to fully support everyone touched by Alzheimer’s and dementia. “With this community-wide effort, we can reduce the stigma associated with this disease and develop better ways to connect, support, and reach across boundaries,” said Cabe.
For more information, visit www.actonalz.org/edina.
David Clynes will give his classification talk at the meeting.
The Rotary Club of Edina meets at 12:15 p.m. Thursdays at the Edina Country Club. All are welcome. Cost for lunch and the program is $18.