Community-Based Dementia Friendly Education and Support Initiative

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Dementia Friendly Baltimore County (DFBC)) is an innovative community-based, cross-sector dementia education and supports initiative, coordinated by Baltimore County’s Department of Aging’s Caregiver Programs staff. Its diverse volunteer leadership team of 30+ individuals is a robust collaboration representing a wide array of community touch points, organized in work teams to educate, train, and increase resources. Teams include: faith communities, neighborhood associations, hospitals, libraries, caregivers, equestrian therapy, and more. DFBC aims to grow a more informed, supportive Baltimore County, where individuals living with dementia and caregivers/care partners feel supported, valued, and better able to access the resources they need to live the lives they choose. Successes include: creating innovative memory cafes; offering a free public caregiver education series called, Living Creatively with Dementia, introducing the arts and LEGO PLAY to increase the caregivers’ meaningful engagement toolbox, and caregiver self-care workshops; creating a speakers bureau of 17 trained presenters to give one-hour dementia information sessions throughout the community; developing resource cards for first responders to give to families when responding to calls; translating materials in four languages and offering presentations in diverse communities; growing partnerships, including co-sponsoring events, including with Johns Hopkins, Alzheimer’s Association, and more.