June 2020, Volume 42
Update on the Dementia Grant and
Dementia Capable Coalition of Lucas County
by
Jennifer Wolfe, Provider Training Coordinator
Supports for Seniors Committee Chair
In 2019, the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities began a partnership with MemoryLane Care Services and several other agencies in northwest Ohio. MemoryLane Care had been awarded a grant from the Administration for Community Living to develop a dementia-inclusive community in our region. Although some initiatives have been put on hold during this unusual time in our nation's history, the work of our dementia grant partnership has continued on steadily with a variety of projects. Here is some of what has taken place since our last update in the November 2019 Aging Gracefully.
- The Dementia Capable Coalition of Lucas County has been created to invite various community agencies to the table as partners to make Lucas County a Dementia-Inclusive Community. A compression planning meeting is scheduled for late summer to help structure the coalition and create focus and sustainability for the work.
- The Benjamin Rose Institute Care Consultation (BRICC) program has begun and agencies have started to enroll individuals and their family caregivers. This program provides personalized coaching to the individual and his or her caregiver. The BRICC program has been put on hold since the COVID crisis began, but we intend to resume it when the situation stabilizes. Referrals for the program can be sent to Jason McAllister, SSA Coordinator, at jmcallister@lucasdd.org
- Many Board and grant partner staff have already been trained to become trainers for two curricula: "Dementia Friends for IDD" and "Behavioral Interventions When Caring for Someone with Dementia." In-person trainings were held at the Board early in 2020. These curricula are currently being adapted for use in virtual training opportunities.
- The grant provides access to consultation with Philip McCallion, one of the few scholars whose research focuses on the overlap of IDD and dementia, and provides the opportunity to host him as a presenter at in-person trainings. Prior to the COVID crisis, Dr. McCallion was tentatively scheduled to come to Toledo in early June to train multiple sessions and consult with provider agencies. The committee hopes to reschedule his visit for later in 2020.
In addition to our identified ongoing committee work, on May 13, 2020, Jennifer Wolfe, LCBDD Provider Training Coordinator, was a presenter at the National Down Syndrome Society's Virtual Adult Summit, co-presenting along with Marty Williman, Program Director for the Ohio Council for Cognitive Health. Marty and Jennifer presented "Dementia Friends for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities." Developing Alzheimer's is a greater concern for people with Down Syndrome than for people without intellectual disabilities, or for people with other forms of intellectual disability, because of the third or "extra" copy of chromosome 21 found in individuals with Down Syndrome. Chromosome 21 carries a gene that produces one of the key proteins involved with changes in the brain caused by Alzheimer's. The Dementia Capable Coalition of Lucas County is the first to adapt the Dementia Friends information for the IDD population and to present it to providers and caregivers in the disability community.
As you can see, much is going on behind the scenes as we continue this important work while modifying our approaches for the current restrictions. We are excited for this opportunity to partner with this active group of professionals working to improve the lives of individuals with dementia in our region.
June Activity Tips
June is National Zoos and Aquariums Month
National Zoos and Aquariums Month is celebrated annually to honor the role of zoos and aquariums in conservation, education, recreation and research. When the weather is nice a trip to a zoo or aquarium offers so much to see and do. All of the senses come alive!
With what is happening in the world with Covid-19, we may not be able to visit zoos and aquariums in person right now - but we can still enjoy them! Take a virtual tour of one of the many zoos that are around.
June 16 is National Fudge Day
Fudge in a Ziploc Bag Recipe
Ingredients
3 ounces cream cheese
1 pound powered sugar
1/2 cup Cocoa (or 6 Tablespoons hot cocoa mix)
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 Gallon Ziploc bag
Place all the ingredients in the Ziploc bag. Close bag well.
(You may choose to place it inside an additional bag to reduce the risk of spills.)
Squish all ingredients in the bag by hand to mix.
Mix until smooth (at least 10 to 15 minutes).
If you're new to Aging Gracefully, past issues can be found at the Lucas County Board of DD's web site, http://lucasdd.info/, under Publications.
Please note that no issue of Aging Gracefully was published in April of 2020, due to the need to focus on communicating about the coronavirus crisis.
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