||| FROM INGRID MATTSON for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY |||
Odds are you know someone with a degree of memory loss. Depending on your age and stage of life, it’s possible you’ve wondered how to help that person or how you will be supported if you’re experiencing memory loss.
You’re not alone in trying to figure everything out.
Dementia Friendly Orcas (DFO) is a workgroup of cross-community volunteers engaging all sectors of our community to understand the scope and impact of memory loss and dementia on Orcas Island. In particular, we are assessing our community’s current ability to support people with cognitive difficulties and memory loss.
We invite you to take a survey to help us get to know our community’s concerns. Surveys can be picked up from the Orcas Senior Center, the Orcas Island Public Library, or Island Primary, or you can take the survey ONLINE HERE.
By taking this survey, you are helping to plan for the challenges that lie ahead and develop policies to help meet those changes. Anyone can take this survey, even if you aren’t directly affected by cognitive difficulties like memory loss or dementia. We value the lived experiences of all community members and the more voices we hear, the better we can plan. ‘
On a related front, the Orcas Lions Club is offering Partners In Care, a family caregiver assistance (respite) program at Orcas Senior Center. Partners In Care provides family caregivers with a much-needed break, knowing their loved ones are in good hands. Each Monday afternoon from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m., trained volunteers and a professional caregiver offer compassionate supervision along with engaging and creative activities. An optional lunch will be included to enhance the experience.
This free service is available by reservation only. If you or someone you know could benefit, please contact Susan Gordon Bentley at sgordonbentley@gmail.com or 310-384-2053.
More importantly, if you would like to get involved and spend a few hours a week with some incredibly fun folks playing games, chatting, and volunteering with Partners In Care to help support caregivers on the island, contact Susan to learn more about this incredible program.
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