Albany focus group to help establish ‘dementia-friendly’ community

ALBANY — While the Alzheimer’s Outreach Center starts a fundraising campaign to replace the old building it lost as a result of Hurricane Michael, it also will work into 2019 via partnerships with other agencies to create a business community that is more dementia-friendly.

The outreach center and SOWEGA Council on Aging — in collaboration with the Georgia Gerontology Society — through grant funding are partnering to help make Albany a dementia-friendly community.

As part of the effort, a focus group is being formed that will include the following individuals:

— Care partners for someone living with dementia;

— Community leaders;

— Business owners or managers interested in creating a business that can better serve the needs of dementia patients and their caregivers;

— Someone living with dementia.

Individuals in any one of those groups are invited to attend the meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 29 at the Kay Hind Senior Life Enrichment Center at 335 W. Society Ave.

It will not be the first time such an event has been conducted.

“A year ago, we attempted to start a dementia community-friendly event,” Alzheimer’s Outreach Center Development Director Nancy Goode said.

That event involved business managers interested in making their establishments easier to utilize by those impacted by dementia. Now, the grant from the Georgia Gerontology Society is allowing expansion of the idea by forming a focus group.

Griffin said the group will primarily ask caregivers what they need from restaurants, banks, first-responder agencies and business owners so that they and their loved ones can function in these settings. Business owners may be able to get insight on to how to train their staff to serve customers who appear to suffer from dementia.

“There are signs we can teach (staff) to recognize,” Goode said. “We want anybody with dementia to feel comfortable. We need the public’s help to rebuild, and we need help with this focus group.”

Lunch will be served before the meeting starts at around noon. Those expecting to attend are asked to RSVP by Jan. 25.

In addition to this event, the Council on Aging is expected to partner with the center for quarterly educational luncheon events. To RSVP for the focus group, call (229) 435-6789.