Durham’s Comprehensive Aging Plan underscores the importance of preparing for, preventing, and helping people with dementia and their care team. “Respect and Inclusion,” is one of the nine domains of the Plan. The domain’s second goal begins with “enhanc(ing) the wellbeing of persons living with dementia through an inclusive, community-wide, multisector partnership of support and services.”
The fall season has several observances to raise awareness about dementia and to advocate for persons with dementia and their care partners. Starting September 21st, there was World Alzheimer’s Day, the month of October is Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) Awareness Month, and October 29th celebrates the International Day of Care and Support. November is Family Caregivers Month.
Since 2023, on September 23rd, Dementia Inclusive Inc. (DII) has hosted the Durham Dementia Inclusive Community Forum. This year’s theme was “Understand. Act. Together.” It emphasizes the multisector collaboration of individuals and organizations needed to build a dementia-inclusive Durham.
The Forum began with a three-part look at dementia in Durham:
The first presentation “My Experience,” was led by Anthony (Tony) R. Cuerto, a Durham resident who also lives with dementia. Tony is a vibrant example of how persons with dementia can continue to have full lives with the right kinds of support. This includes maintaining meaningful relationships with other people who know that dementia is a health condition and that people living with dementia are whole persons.
Dr. Marianne Chanti-Ketterl, the director of the NC Registry for Brain Health and Assistant Professor in Duke University’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences led the “Understand” portion of the meeting by providing a medical view about dementia. Dr. Chanti-Ketterl used engaging and plain language to explain the medical aspects of brain health and dementia.
Durham County Commissioner Wendy Jacobs was the keynote speaker. Her presentation “A Community Response to Dementia – Why it matters now” made the case for why Durham needs to become dementia-friendly. By 2060, less than 33 years, the number of people living with dementia is expected to double from 7.4 million people today to 13.8 million. Commissioner Jacob’s spoke about stigma, living well with dementia and why this health condition is a community issue.
Next was a multisector panel led by AWD’s executive director, that included Danelle McDonald, a care partner, artist and community leader; Helen Featherson, a community leader with White Rock Baptist Church, Rebecca Marion-Grady, Associate Executive Director at Croasdaile Village and Andre Avila, the Artistic Director for ComMotion – Community In Motion. The panelists shared examples of how they and their organizations have incorporated dementia-inclusive practices and support for care partners.
There were insightful and lively discussions, with the panelists and attendees volleying critical questions and information back and forth. There was a strong emphasis on the exhaustion inherent in caregiving, and how the community and city might uplift care partners. Education was also stressed, as care partners are often members of the family and not professionals. There is not enough ongoing training available to care partners – even though they are expected to provide high levels of care on a daily basis. Education for the community at large was deemed crucial as well.
Play was discussed, being “silly” together as a way to reduce isolation of helping care for someone, as was movement, and integrating people with dementia into everyday activities and community spaces.
There was a lunch that focused on the MIND Diet approach–The MIND diet—short for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay –as the data has shown that the combinations of foods work to help prevent and mitigate cognitive decline.
Afternoon attendees chose to participate in one of four Breakout Groups (from a multisector approach):
- Care Partners, paid caregivers
- Civic agencies, community care, faith-based, and government
- Long term care, neighborhoods, medical
- Businesses, legal, students, schools, and all others
After the breakout sessions, Dr. Mitch Heflin, a Geriatric Specialist with Duke Health encouraged the participants to “Commit and Carry Forward.” Dr. Heflin was a previous DII board member and has participated in most of the organization’s forums every September. His speech highlighted information about promising new medications for dementia – the pros and cons, as well as sharing the story of his father in-law who had dementia.
The Forum’s wrap-up included a raffle, an address by DII’s interim executive director, and a heartfelt moment of appreciation to DII’s founder, Carmelita Karhoff, who stepped-down as executive director. Without Carmelita, DII and the yearly dementia-inclusive forum would not have happened. Her leadership and mentorship of young people will lead to the blossoming of dementia inclusive communities beyond Durham!
DII’s interim executive director Carolyn Ryskiewich said, “It was such a thrill to see the convention center packed with more than 120 community members, brought together by the shared goal of making Durham a more dementia inclusive city. Thanks to the voices of folks from various backgrounds, positions, and experiences we got to have diverse viewpoints represented in the important conversation regarding how we can step up to support our friends and neighbors who are living with dementia. We are filled with gratitude and so appreciate everyone who took the time to be there.”
