Dementia Friendly Washoe County Co-Facilitators

Casey Acklin
Program Coordinator
Dementia Engagement, Education, and Research (DEER) Program
University of Nevada, Reno
Phone: 775-857-7818
Email: [email protected]

About

Community-Driven Change: The Dementia Friendly Washoe County community action group aims to develop and promote a community that is respectful, educated, supportive and inclusive of people living with dementia and their care partners. This goal is mobilized through a collaborative, multi-sector approach to community-driven change utilizing the Dementia Friendly America process. Adopting an ‘authentic partnerships’ approach, the direct engagement of people living with dementia and their care partners is central to our values and process. A second aim of Dementia Friendly Washoe County is to promote and expand the reach of the Nevada Dementia Supports Toolbox, evidence-based programs that are currently available within the state to educate and support people living with dementia and their care partners.

See Us in Action

• Meeting Agendas
• Results of our most recent Dementia Community Needs Assessment
• Stories and Photos from Washoe County community members living well with dementia.
• Watch a short film featuring stories of strength, resilience, and community within the context of dementia. 

Get Involved

For more information about how to get involved in any of projects, call us at 775-682-9444 or email [email protected].

Join an Action Team: Community members can join one of two action teams that are working to make Washoe County more dementia friendly and inclusive: the Dementia Awareness, Training and Education Sessions (DATES) Action Team and the Open Door Café Action Team.

Schedule Some DATES for Dementia Education: The goal of Dementia Awareness, Training and Education Sessions (DATES) Action Team is to provide and evaluate dementia education opportunities to individuals and groups. These efforts help community members across multiple sectors become more welcoming and inclusive of people living with dementia and their care partners as a result of their increased knowledge.

• Dementia Friendly Washoe County is currently offering free, one-hour Dementia Friends Information Sessions to interested individuals and groups. The goal of the Dementia Friends program is to help community members understand five key messages about dementia, how it affects people, and how we each can make a difference in the lives of people living with dementia. 

• Dementia Friendly Nevada is also hosting a monthly Dementia Friends Information Session on the third Wednesday of each month from 12:00 – 1:00 PM via Zoom. Learn more here.

Build a Network of Support: The goal of the Peer Support Action Team is to launch and sustain peer support opportunities for people living with dementia and family care partners in Washoe County. The activities of the Peer Support Action Team have been suspended due to COVID-19, however prior to the pandemic the Action Team was hosting two opportunities:

The first is the Open Door Café, an inclusive and comfortable gathering place for people living with dementia and their loved ones. 

• The mission of the Open Door Café is to provide and encourage opportunities to relax, have fun, socialize and develop networks of mutual peer support within a welcoming environment. Any person who is living with memory loss, dementia or aging with intellectual and developmental disability is welcome at the Open Door Café, as are their families, friends and invited professional care partners. The Open Door Café is FREE to participants.

• If you have any questions or would like more information about the Open Door Café, call us at 775-682-9444 or email [email protected]. 

The second is the Java Music Club, an evidence-based peer support program for people living with dementia that uses music, quotes, and images to foster community-building discussion toward the goal of reducing loneliness and isolation. Find out more about the Java Music Club here..

Give a Donation: If you are interested in donating to support the work of Dementia Friendly Washoe County, please email Jennifer Carson at [email protected]. 

Click here for the full Washoe County Events Calendar

Questions?

Check out these resources.

Not able to find what you’re looking for?  Contact us:

Phone: 775-682-9444

Email: [email protected]