Success Stories
Please share your successes with us!
Share Your Dementia Friends Story
We love hearing how the Dementia Friends sessions have impacted you and your understanding of those with dementia. We invite you to share your experiences and successes with us!
Share Your Success Story
Dementia Friends Success Stories
At MemoryLane Care Services, Dementia Friends’ principles are integrated directly into programming and the delivery of person-centered care. Staff are trained to recognize individual strengths, preferences, and abilities, ensuring that participants are supported in ways that promote autonomy, meaningful engagement, and overall quality of life. These practices extend beyond our organization into community education efforts, helping to build awareness and understanding of dementia-friendly practices.
Dementia Friendly Toledo partnered with the Leadership Toledo Adult Signature Program in 2024 to implement Toledo’s First-Ever Dementia Friendly Movie Event. Hosted at a local church that previously operated as an AMC movie theater, the event featured dementia-friendly environmental adaptations, including lower lighting, reduced sound levels, and an atmosphere that encouraged movement, singing, and dancing. Outreach efforts included community members, individuals living in long-term care settings, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with individuals and families requesting that dementia-friendly movie events become a regular offering within the community.
Dementia Friendly Toledo‘s projects have increased community awareness, encouraged inclusive practices, and demonstrated how everyday spaces can be adapted to better support individuals living with dementia and their care partners.
The entire staff at a Continuing Care Retirement Community recently attended a Dementia Friends session. One Nursing Assistant wrote, “this session has given me a lot of good information that I can use with my residents, many who have memory loss. The communication tips are really good. Thank you!”
A young man, I’d guess in his late 20s attended a recent session to learn how he can better support his friend and neighbor who’s living with dementia. This friend who’s in her 80s, does not have family living nearby. “I want to do everything I can to make my neighbor’s life more enjoyable and show her the respect she deserves.”
Dementia Friends was presented at a recent statewide conference. One attendee wrote, “I know that now, I will be more comfortable when I’m having a conversation with someone who has memory loss. I’ll know what to say, how to get started.”
“I really like the exercises in the Dementia Friends session workbook. They make you realize how complicated daily tasks (that we all take for granted,) really are. Who knew there are over 40 steps to brushing your teeth?!” I have a new appreciation for what living with dementia might feel like.”
Dementia Friendly Summit County partnered with community organizations ArtsNow and Advancing Independence Network to develop The Accessibility Library, which includes assistive resources and support to make community events (cultural events, meetings, etc.) accessible to everyone, including those living with dementia and their care partners.
The Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library first invited Dementia Friendly Summit County to provide Dementia Friends for Libraries on their Staff Development Day. The Library’s collection now includes Cognitive Health Kits, Dementia Friends sessions have been on its programming calendar, and its website includes Social Stories to support Library visits for all.
Dementia Friendly Toledo is piloting A Dementia Friendly Restaurant Experience initiative, in partnership with the Toledo Area Dementia Coalition and another Leadership Toledo Signature Program group. The initiative focuses on adapting Dementia Friends principles for restaurant settings. A dementia-friendly dining experience will be piloted with local restaurants, with the goal of increasing inclusivity and creating opportunities for social engagement for individuals living with dementia and their families. We expect to greatly increase community awareness and action with this effort.
Dementia Friends sessions for Akron Zoo staff (now including regular training for new employees) created an opportunity for the Zoo to build on its commitment to sensory-inclusive and age-friendly service. The Zoo’s dementia-inclusive lens is demonstrated here: Dementia Friends Certification | Akron Zoo.
A Service Coordinator for a senior housing complex heard about Dementia Friends and promptly scheduled a session in the campus’ community room. “We have people impacted by memory loss issues. Some as caregivers, friends, or they themselves are experiencing memory loss. We can all use a little more knowledge and understanding about the changes that come with this.”
On the last page of the Dementia Friends session workbook, there’s an opportunity for participants to “check-off” dementia friendly actions they intend to take. There’s also an “other” line, to write in more specific actions. A woman wrote, “I know what I am going to do. I’m going home and calling my sister. She has dementia. I haven’t talked to her in over a year. I didn’t know what to say to her. Now I do.”
“I work with our Vets, helping the ones who no longer drive. Some have memory issues. Now that I’ve attended Dementia Friends, I have more tips for talking with them on the long van rides to appointments and such. They gave so much to our country, it’s the least I can do.”