July 2023

What is a dementia-friendly community?

According to Dementia Friendly America, a dementia-friendly community is one that is informed, safe, and respectful of individuals living with dementia, their families and caregivers, and provides supportive options that foster quality of life.

We shared back in our first edition of Connection Is Key that Summit County and the City of Akron were both named age and dementia-friendly communities at the end of 2022. The State of Ohio, also has the designation of being dementia-friendly by creating an initiative between Dementia Friendly America and Ohio Council for Cognitive Health called Dementia Friendly Ohio.

How do you join in on the social movement taking place... start with becoming a Dementia Friend!

Dementia Friends...

Raise awareness and understanding of dementia
Challenge the stigma and negative messaging
Provide effective communication and engagement tips
Inform others of helpful local, state, and national dementia resources
Encourage dementia friendly actions that make a difference in people's lives

For more information on creating a Dementia Friendly Ohio click here

Dementia Friends Living Alone Sessions

Our Senior and Adult Services Department is always looking to build more community partnerships through our outreach education programming. The goal is to connect with those who come into contact with older populations in our community and share information and resources in the area of dementia and related brain health conditions.

One such program offering is Dementia Friends Living Alone. This program is offered FREE of charge and is an interactive session blending discussion, videos, Q&A time and activities- for roughly 90 minutes- and lays the foundation for participants to feel more comfortable and confident in their ability to recognize possible dementia and their interactions with those who may live with those symptoms.

In the spirit of building an age and dementia friendly community Integrity Federal Credit Union, Towpath Credit Union, and Falls Catholic Credit Union, three area credit unions, recently came together and worked with our Clinical Coordinator to create a training plan for all of their employees to become Dementia Friends.

They are already feeling the impact!

“I was very encouraged that after you left my staff was still talking about the training. As a matter of fact I heard our head Teller talking with a member whose family member is struggling with Dementia. She gave out some of the information you left with us. This training is so beneficial not only for the work environment, but also in our own personal lives!”

Karen Hardy, President/CEO Integrity Federal Credit Union

"We as a family have been noticing the signs and of course giving excuses for the things they say and do. After the training, which really opened my eyes, I see that we as a family need to come together and make a plan to be better prepared. It was very insightful, moving, and helped me to understand and now I won’t get so frustrated with my loved one when they are having a challenging day." Towpath Employee

“The Dementia Training the Summit County Health Department provided to our staff aligns with the credit union motto of ‘people helping people.’ Serving our communities and doing so with more clarity and deeper empathy on what our aging population may be experiencing will enable us to do what we do best – meet our Members where they are, always putting their best interests first.” Michael Sferro, President/CEO Towpath Credit Union

To request information about holding a Dementia Friends Living Alone session you can click here to email our Clinical Coordinator, Nicole Becher

Farmers Markets

Summer is a great time to get outside, enjoy some vitamin D and try some local freshly picked produce. Throughout Summit County, we have several Farmers Markets that operate weekly featuring locally grown produce, meats, cheeses and other fresh food options. Some of these locations even accept EBT Cards, Produce Perks, as well as Senior and WIC FMNP.

Click on the link below to check out location information for the 2023 season.

Local Summer Farmers Market Locations

COVID-19 Update

On May 11, 2023, the federal COVID-19 PHE (Public Health Emergency) Declaration ended. What does that mean for the general public? Is COVID over? That answer is NO, COVID is NOT over, but we are moving away from the emergency pandemic phase and moving into living with COVID just like we do the Flu and other communicable diseases.

Vaccines and treatment will remain available.

COVID-19 at-home tests will no longer be required to be available for free from insurance companies.

The CDC and other public health entities will continue to provide impactful and timely information, but the way national reporting of COVID-19 is shared out may change.

COVID Vaccination continues to be available in our clinic here at the health department by appointment only.

Call 330-375-2772 to schedule.

Click Here to Stay Up to Date with CDC Guidance

Rainbow Pioneers

Rainbow Pioneers, is the group formerly known as SAGE Cleveland, it is a social support group that serves LGBTQ+ individuals ages 50+. Rainbow Pioneers programming provides participants with a safe, affirming space and allows members to engage in a variety of activities ranging from Art Therapy to Joint Mobility Exercises.

You can read the official press release regarding the name change from SAGE to Rainbow Pioneers here!

Click to Learn More About Senior LGBTQ+ Resources

It is our hope that you will find our communication to be valuable and worth sharing among your own clients, members, colleagues, family and friends. Because TOGETHER we can reach further and ultimately make a greater impact on those individuals who make up our Summit County community.