We are Hiring!

Part-Time Dementia Service Specialist Opening

We are excited to announce the opening of a new part-time position for a Dementia Service Specialist. This pilot role is a fantastic opportunity to further our goal of supporting communities where people living with dementia can live and thrive. This position at the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging is made possible through funding from the Iowa-GWEP, which is a 5-year grant. Through this pilot, we aim to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Dementia Service Specialist model, paving the way for potential future expansion of the program.

The Dementia Service Specialist role involves delivering specialized services to enhance the quality of life for those affected by dementia. Key responsibilities include:

• Planning & conducting initial care consultations for people living with dementia/caregivers
• Providing dementia education to families, caregivers, organizations, and communities
• Initiating outreach in local communities to make connections & advance Dementia Friendly Iowa efforts

We are looking for a dedicated individual with experience in dementia-specific care, support, or education. This position offers flexibility and the chance to make a meaningful impact. It will be mainly based in the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging 18-county region, which will require travel. The position may be hybrid if the individual is interested in working remotely, but travel for meetings & care consultations within NE Iowa will be required. The role will be approximately 20-hours/week. For more details and to apply, please visit the Indeed job listing. If you have any questions or intend to apply, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Dementia Friends Iowa Evaluation Report

Statewide Impact Highlighted

The Dementia Friendly Iowa program officially launched three years ago in July 2021. This spring, Megan Zimmerman and Joe Sample collaborated to compile evaluation data and create a report to show the impact of the statewide Dementia Friends program since its launch. The report highlights the program’s effectiveness in enhancing dementia knowledge, increasing social comfort of attendees, and inspiring dementia friendly action within communities. Read the full evaluation report here. 

Dementia Friendly Communities Corner

Dementia Friendly Clarinda & Dementia Friendly Linn County Initiatives Launch

Dementia Friendly Clarinda is Iowa's 7th Dementia Friendly Community Initiative! Dementia Friendly Clarinda is an initiative to promote awareness of dementia in the community. It is a collaborative effort with businesses and the community to better meet the needs of those with dementia and their caregivers. Goals of this initiative include education of businesses & community members as well as creating new resources and support for families impacted by dementia. Stay tuned as more opportunities to engage locally are announced. Congratulations, Clarinda!

Dementia Friendly Linn County officially launched Iowa's 6th Dementia Friendly Community Initiative. We had a blast celebrating at the parking lot party kickoff on June 20th held at The Chris & Suzy DeWolf Family Innovation Center for Aging & Dementia. The event had a focus on reducing stigma surrounding dementia by encouraging interaction with people living with dementia, some of whom helped plan the event! It was full of resource sharing, connecting, music, food, and fun. Pictured above are members of the Dementia Friendly Linn County action team. They even made the news! Check out the report on KCRG here.

Seven communities in Iowa have active Dementia Friendly Community Initiatives: Cedar Valley, Maquoketa, Vinton, Johnson County, Dubuque, Linn County, and Clarinda. Visit our website or attend our upcoming webinar if you are interested in learning more about starting or joining a local effort.

Join our Mission!

Seeking Volunteers in Rural Counties & Diverse Populations

Would you or someone you know make a great Champion?

Our Champions present Dementia Friends sessions and Dementia Friendly Business trainings in their local communities. Currently, we have volunteer Champion Presenters in around 75% of Iowa counties. Most of the unreached counties are rural. In addition, we are seeking Champion volunteers who are bi-lingual to help offer sessions in other languages.

To become a Champion, you must attend a two-hour virtual training. Upcoming trainings are scheduled for:

1. Thursday, August 29, 9-11am (via Zoom)
2. Tuesday, September 10, 5-7pm (via Zoom)
3. Wednesday, September 25, 2-4pm (via Zoom)
4. Monday, October 14, 11am-1pm (via Zoom)

Register for the Champion Volunteer Training here.

Email mzimmerman@nei3a.org or call 319-287-1182 to learn more about becoming a Champion Volunteer.

Upcoming Events to Know

Check out the Dementia Friendly Iowa calendar to find more.

1) Dementia-Friendly Community Programming: Lessons from Las Vegas, NADRC Webinar (Monday, July 19, 2-3pm via Zoom). Learn more.

2) Firearm Safety in Dementia: Alzheimer's Foundation of America Webinar (Thursday, August 8, 12-1pm via Zoom). Learn more.

3) Healthy Habits For Your Brain: Alzheimer's Association Monthly Series (Thursday, August 15 at 11am, via Zoom). Register here.

4) Dementia Friends + Effective Communicate Strategies: Collaborative Education Program (Wednesday, August 21, 12-2pm via Zoom). Learn more.

5) Johnson County 2024 Healthy Aging Fair: Includes a Dementia Friends Session (Thursday, August 22, 9am-12pm @ Iowa City Senior Center. Learn more.

6) Becoming a Dementia Friendly Community FAQ Webinar (Wednesday, September 17, 12-1pm via Zoom). Register here.

Trualta Available to Iowa Caregivers

New Resource Alert!

New resource alert! The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with Trualta, an online learning platform, for caregivers to gain FREE practical skills and helpful knowledge. There are even specific modules on dementia available! Learn more here.