Linn County joins Dementia Friendly America® network

June 20 event in Cedar Rapids will launch initiative

Mercy Medical Center and The Chris & Suzy DeWolf Family Innovation Center for Aging & Dementia of Mercy are pleased to announce that Linn County is now part of the Dementia Friendly America® (DFA) network as a Dementia Friendly Community initiative. Linn County is the sixth Iowa community to join the DFA network in this capacity.

The overall goal in becoming a Dementia Friendly Community is to reduce the stigma regarding dementia and help residents feel more comfortable interacting with people living with dementia. It also signals that a community is engaging in an active process to become more dementia friendly.

To become a recognized Dementia Friendly Community initiative, members of a Linn County action team completed an application process through DFA. The application must show that the action team, involving cross-sector collaboration, is in place and it must involve people living with dementia.

“We are thrilled that our community has achieved this milestone,” said Kathy Good, director of The Chris & Suzy DeWolf Family Innovation Center for Aging & Dementia. “Many individuals have been involved in our work to date toward becoming dementia friendly. As each sector of our community takes its own steps to foster support for this cause, we will collectively become more informed, safe, and respectful for those living with dementia and their care partners.”

An initial “parking lot event” at the DeWolf Innovation Center is scheduled for June 20. This event will officially launch Dementia Friendly Linn County and kick off the implementation of its goals. Event details will be shared as the date nears.