Eau Claire Co. continues efforts for creating dementia friendly community | Altoona Library and Police join in effort

Thursday, June 23, 2016
Jesse Yang | WQOW

Eau Claire County (WQOW) - Judy Furher is digging deep and decorating her yard with dozens of perennials.

But, under the surface, Judy is dealing with a debilitating disease, one that local health officials said is quickly sprouting. Lisa Wells, a dementia care specialist for Eau Claire County, said there are many people with dementia who are not diagnosed. "Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are a whole new ball game."

Plucking at the root of the problem for two years, the Eau Claire County Dementia Coalition has been hosting free training sessions throughout the Chippewa Valley. "We're kind of averaging one to two a month," Wells said.

Since Eau Claire County started its dementia friendly community, 50 businesses, including the Altoona Public Library, have joined the effort in recognizing and responding to people living with the disease."If they have someone coming into that restaurant or bank that has dementia, it's a matter of when," Wells said. "They will encounter somebody living with dementia in the community."

Joining the effort is the Altoona Police Department. For the first time, officers spent Thursday afternoon learning how to recognize and respond to people living with dementia. Lieutenant Dave Livingston said Altoona police officers have limited resources to knowing how to approach individuals living with dementia. "They might be overly sensitized to the sirens or the police or the badge or something else, so we just have to be more recognizing."

"The things that can be really be so helpful is just a smile on your face. A gentle approach. Being kind," Wells said.

Furher hopes the educational efforts can help shed light on the stigma and reseed how we perceive, those dealing with dementia. "I can't think of anything that I'm not able to do now," Furher said.

The Eau Claire County Dementia Coalition offers free "dementia aware" training to area businesses and agencies.

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