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 Statewide, Working Together on the Impacts of Alzheimer's
September 9, 2013   
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Partner Stories

 

Look at what we've done! 

 

The partner focus this issue is the collective WE of ACT on Alzheimer's. June 2013 marked 2 years of transformative work accomplished by participants in our collaborative. We keep moving forward because of the passion and commitment of all of YOU -- partners, supporters, action communities, and Minnesotans dedicated to preparing our state for the future. Thank you!

 

The ACT on Alzheimer's Progress Update (September 2013) summarizes the work in support of our five goals, the best practice resources developed, and the current state of evaluation, funding, and recognition. Please share these accomplishments with your professional and personal networks, so we can keep expanding awareness and impact!

 

See who's who in our growing list of partners.

Resources and Tools

 

A valued resource for action communities gains new relationships.

 

The Central Minnesota Council on Aging (CMCOA) is an area agency on aging serving Benton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena and Wright counties.  CMCOA is working with four ACT on Alzheimer's action communities -- Walker, Forest Lake/Wyoming, Cambridge and Brainerd/Baxter -- as well as others interested in becoming dementia capable.

Executive Director Lori Vrolson sees a solid alignment of the dementia readiness community work and their Communities for a Lifetime work. "We're building relationships with community organizations in the action communities. This is a great opportunity to introduce individuals to Senior LinkAge Line�, talk about services funded through the Older Americans Act, promote educational workshops, and explore partnerships with community service providers, all of which help older adults stay healthy and independent."


As to the impact on communities tackling dementia-capable needs, CMCOA observed, "Communities are discovering they are resource wealthy...they didn't realize it until they became involved with this initiative."  And the future for CMCOA in relation to Alzheimer's disease? "The area agencies on aging have the opportunity to be a catalyst in changing the way people think and act towards the disease. We can break the negative stigma and promote education for both healthcare professionals and the public."  


Learn more about the 
Central Minnesota Council on Aging

and download our "hot off the press" promotional piece about helping communities prepare to ACT on Alzheimer's
Community Spotlight

 

ACT for Forest Lake

 

The ACT for Forest Lake action team was formed in May 2013 and is currently in the community assessment phase of the Dementia Capable Communities Toolkit.  They plan to complete surveying of community sectors by late November and share the findings in February 2014.

The team lead is Jules Benson, Marketing Coordinator, Birchwood Health Care Community. In her words, "We have a very motivated action team, because we believe that Alzheimer's disease is an untapped issue in our community.  We have had good focus on families and children, but our seniors have been forgotten. Many of our team members are aging themselves, caring for aging parents, or touched by Alzheimer's disease. We are passionate about bringing seniors and their issues to the forefront."

Learn more about ACT for Forest Lake and the

Leadership Groups 

 

September Meetings

Subgroup: Mid-late Stage Tool Development, September 10

Communities, September 24

Management Steering Team, September 25

Cultural/Linguistics Advisory Committee, September 30

 

August Meetings:  Summaries

Identify and Invest in Promising Approaches, August 19  

 

Visit the Collective Action Lab for details on Leadership Groups and to access the calendar 

Read our September 2013 progress report 

 
ACT on Alzheimer's is a volunteer-driven, statewide collaboration preparing
Minnesota for the personal, social and budgetary impacts of
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Over 50 organizations and
150 individuals have come together to ACT on Alzheimer's.
 
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