@ Orcas Senior Center – Thursday, October 19, 1:30 pm
||| FROM LENA KASSA for ORCAS SENIOR CENTER |||
Orcas Island has an elderly population, and all of us know someone, a friend or family member, with dementia or memory loss. Statistically, 1 in 10 people over age 65 live with dementia, suggesting that in 2020 in San Juan County there were 733 people with dementia. And we project that in 2030 there will be 808.
On Thursday, October 19 at 1:30pm speakers from Birchview Memory Care in Sedro-Woolley will provide a general overview of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of memory loss. Presenters will discuss how to recognize dementia and ways that caregivers can assist people living with memory loss live safely and as fully as possible.
The presentation is suitable for caregivers, family, and friends as well as those living with dementia. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss them with the presenters. The talk is free, and all are welcome.
As part of Dementia Friendly America, Orcas Senior Center has undertaken a “Dementia Friendly Orcas” (DFO) project. Over the next year, the center’s DFO Work Group will assess our community’s current ability to support people with cognitive difficulties and memory loss. As we identify needs for improvement, we will plan for providing the education, community support, and resources that people living with dementia, their families, and caregivers need to live fully and safely. To learn more, see www.orcasseniors.org/dementia-friendly.
