PA Department of Aging Renews Grant for Dementia Friends/Friendly Pennsylvania

Girl Scout Troop 70709, located in Clymer, participate in a session and became Dementia Friends on October 11.

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) renewed its contract with the Jewish Healthcare Foundation to support the Dementia Friends Pennsylvania and Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania initiatives. PDA has funded Dementia Friends PA since 2020 and Dementia Friendly PA since 2022.

Stacie Bonenberger, MOT, OTR/L and Anneliese Perry, MS, NHA, CECM are the statewide coordinators for both initiatives, which continue to grow as the prevalence of dementia rises across the state.

"Supporting the 400,000+ Pennsylvanians living with dementia and their care partners is our top priority with these programs, and we're grateful that the Department of Aging continues to recognize the need for this work," said Bonenberger. "We're also incredibly thankful for the hundreds of Dementia Friends and Dementia Friendly volunteers across the state who are creating spaces where people living with dementia are understood and included."

Through a train-the-trainer model, Dementia Friends Champion Volunteers are equipped to offer live virtual and in-person Dementia Friends sessions where community members learn about dementia and are encouraged to implement practical changes that can support people living with dementia. Today, there are more than 14,000 Dementia Friends in Pennsylvania and nearly 150,000 across the United States.

Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania works closely with eight existing Dementia Friendly communities across the state. Dementia Friendly communities are grassroots, volunteer-led efforts that employ cross-sector partnerships, outreach and education, and other complimentary community programs to help people living with dementia and their care partners navigate and access services, supports, and enjoy meaningful social inclusion. In addition to supporting the communities, Dementia Friendly PA acts as the statewide convener for all things dementia-friendly by providing free resources and webinars, engaging its statewide Community Advisory Committee, and hosting an events calendar that feature happenings across the state.

"Pennsylvania's dementia friendly communities continue to find creative ways to engage individuals and organizations – from hosting memory cafes to leading dementia friendly trainings for local businesses," Perry said. "We're excited to help them strengthen their community impact and to support the growing number of communities across the state who want to become dementia friendly."

Throughout the next contract year, Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania aims to bring on new communities across the Commonwealth. To become a Dementia Friend, register for a live virtual or in-person Information Session here. To join the Dementia Friendly PA mailing list or start a community, register here.