A group of business leaders recently met at The Student Prince for lunch and presentation by the Springfield Dementia Friendly Coalition. Leaders working in restaurant, transportation, banking, tourism, healthcare, pharmacy, grocery, higher education, library, and industry sectors participated in a virtual dementia experience, shared their professional and personal experiences with dementia, and learned about what it would mean to make Springfield a Dementia Friendly Community.
A Dementia Friendly Community is one
where all people can live, age, and thrive, including those living with dementia and their care-partners. Every member of the community understands
their role and works together to create a culture that helps ensure people who are memory challenged can live independently for as long as possible.
When memory changes occur, individuals often become isolated, which can further hasten cognitive decline. A community that understands dementia will be one that supports its neighbors who are struggling to deal with loss of memory, loss of the ability to do routine activities, loss of independence, and loss of self.
Organizations represented in the Springfield Dementia Friendly Coalition include the Alzheimer’s Association, the Chapin Center, Greater Springfield Senior Services, SilverLife Care at Home, Springfield Department of Elder Affairs, Springfield Partners for Community Action and The Loomis Communities. For more information and a calendar of events in Western Massachusetts go to www.dementiafriendlycommunities.org.
The Coalition is sponsored in part by a grant from Massachusetts Council on Aging (MCOA), and PeoplesBank, O’Connell Care at Home, The Loomis Communities.
About The Loomis Communities:
The Loomis Communities has been a visionary in exceptional senior living throughout the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. It was the first organization in the state to open a continuing care retirement community.
With a mission of enriching the lives of older adults, The Loomis Communities offers independent living apartments and cottages, assisted living and skilled nursing care on three campuses in the Pioneer Valley: Applewood in Amherst, Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing in Springfield, and Loomis Village in South Hadley.
For more information, call us.
Applewood: 413-253-9833
Loomis Village: 413-588-5102
Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing: 413-355-5803
or send us a note through our Contact Us form.
