Glendale most recent Arizona city to join dementia-friendly community

PHOENIX — The city of Glendale on Friday joined a national dementia-friendly program in an effort to support people living with dementia and their caregivers, officials announced.

As part of the Dementia Friendly America Program, Glendale will work to be a city that’s informed, safe and respectful of individuals living with the disease.

Trained members of the community will raise dementia awareness through ongoing programs.

Programs will include Memory Café’s, first responders education and dementia friends information sessions, officials said in a press release.

Memory Café’s provide a social and safe place for people living with memory loss and their care partners. Caregivers participate in an educational and support session while those with memory loss participate in a cognitive engagement program.

“Our population is getting older and dementia is a growing disease within our community,” Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers said in the release.

“We must do everything in our power to provide knowledge and expertise to the residents of Glendale. This program is another tool to accomplish just that.”

With Arizona expecting to experience the fastest growth of residents living with dementia in the United States over the next several years, the West Valley suburb, in a collaborative effort with Inspira Arrowhead, Foundation for Senior Living and Banner Health, formed Dementia Friendly Glendale.

Such communities foster the ability of people living with the disease to stay in the community, and engage and thrive in daily life.

A proclamation on Friday officially branded Glendale as a dementia-friendly community.

Other state cities that have joined the Dementia Friendly America Program are Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise and Tempe.

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