Age & Dementia Friendly Massachusetts
Monthly DFM Zoom meetings
DFM Quarterly Meeting, featuring Liz McCarthy and Beth Soltzberg
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Join others in the Dementia Friendly Massachusetts network to learn about new resources that MCOA has to offer in service of greater connectivity, peer-to-peer learning, and idea-sharing! This meeting will feature Liz McCarthy, the Health Systems Director for the Alzheimer’s Association New England region, talking about the Medicare pilot program GUIDE, which is designed to provide support for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Also, Beth Soltzberg, from Jewish Family & Children’s Services in Waltham, will introduce the newly developed national directory of Memory Cafés, which has a retooled system for registering and updating Memory Café programs.
MCOA Leads Dementia Friendly MA, Offering Resources and Grants
MCOA is the state lead for the Dementia Friendly Massachusetts (DFM) initiative, a community-based, grassroots movement to grow awareness, services, and infrastructure to support the lives of people living with dementia and their caregivers. Communities often choose to merge DFM goals with corresponding and overlapping goals for network membership in the Age-Friendly Massachusetts movement, which is steered by AARP-MA.
MCOA offers ongoing support in these meaningful endeavors:
- One-on-one counseling with COA staff members starting and continuing AF/DF work
- Useful step-by-step documents to guide your process
- Quarterly DFM meetings with a broad array of colleagues in the field, featuring presentations from experts and highlighted COA leaders who share best practices
- Dementia Friendly Massachusetts designation certificates, distributed to MA communities who have signed the DFM Pledge
- Continually updated training opportunities, resources, and publications
- A current events calendar of relevant, AF/DF virtual and in-person programming in the state
- MCOA representation at your DFM Kick-Off Event
- Grants for Memory Cafes, AF/DF Programs, Supportive Day Programs, and other COA initiatives that increase quality of life for older adults in Massachusetts
- Annual Spring Symposium and Fall Conference sessions featuring presenters who are actively promoting AFDF projects in their communities
- A MyMCOA InfoHub Forum for COA staff members involved in AF/DF efforts
- A new DFM blog
DFM state leaders have developed a set of steps for joining the dementia friendly network, as well as a checklist to help communities explore multiple ideas for growing their initiatives.
- Becoming a DFM Community
- What is Dementia?
- DFM Towns
- DFM Action Plans
- Resources
- Partners & Leadership Team
The case for working towards dementia-friendly goals
The most recent estimate we have for people over the age of 65 living with Alzheimer’s in Massachusetts is 135,000 (2020), according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, believed to account for 60-80% of cases. Therefore, it’s likely that over 193,000 people over the age of 65 in Massachusetts live with symptoms of dementia.
While a dementia diagnosis does not need to signal a loss of quality of life or relationships, the degenerative nature of the condition eventually creates a need for caregiving and specialized support in all areas of life. The global dementia friendly movement, led by Dementia Friendly America in the US, advocates for all sectors of communities to proactively plan for supporting people with dementia and their caregivers. This illustration indicates community sectors that the DF movement interacts with in order to increase awareness of and supports for the experience of living with dementia.
Steps for Becoming Dementia Friendly
No community will ever be fully dementia friendly. But every community making progress towards becoming dementia friendly should be recognized and celebrated. Since the Dementia Friendly Massachusetts Initiative began in 2016, communities have received formal recognition for their commitment to becoming dementia friendly.
DFM Steps and DFM Checklist, printable documents
MCOA Members only: MyMCOA InfoHub Forum for Age and Dementia Friendly Communities
Examples of dementia friendly programs and services
While none of these programs are required to be considered dementia-friendly, the following examples have brought positive changes to their communities when implemented.
Supportive Day Programs and Respite Programs
Supportive day programs and respite programs are set in secure locations and are designed to stimulate and engage adults with memory loss through peer socialization and participation in age-appropriate activities. Family members can entrust their loved one to professionals, allowing care partners the opportunity to attend to personal matters. Private organizations as well as select local Councils on Aging offer this service.
Dementia Friends Massachusetts Information Sessions
Dementia Friends Massachusetts promotes dementia awareness by educating individuals on how to be more sensitive and understanding of people with dementia in their community. Read about the differences between the Dementia Friendly Massachusetts and Dementia Friends Massachusetts, here.
Some dementia friendly programming commonly found in MA senior centers:
Memory Cafés
Memory Cafés are events that offer a comfortable setting with activities designed to encourage socialization and acceptance for people experiencing changes in memory and their care partners. Memory Cafés are distinct, offering activities including musical entertainment, education sessions about dementia, and casual conversations. The hosting community determines where the cafe takes place: the local senior center, coffeehouses, museums, or other businesses.
To start a Memory Café in your community, consider using the Memory Café Toolkit, and remember that MCOA’s SIG grants have a Memory Café category.
Pizza & Proxy Parties
A key component of advance planning is determining a health care plan that reflects the desires of the individual. Honoring Choices encourages local governments and businesses to host pizza parties during which residents learn about health care options and identify a health care agent. While Pizza & Proxy Parties are not exclusively for people diagnosed with dementia, it is crucial that recently diagnosed adults determine their intended future care and choose who will represent their interests when they are no longer able.
Support Groups
Support groups are group sessions attended by participants regularly, offering emotional support or education to people with dementia and/or their caregivers. The intended audience of a support group ranges from people diagnosed with dementia to caregivers to children of people diagnosed. To find a local support group that addresses your needs, visit the Alzheimer’s Association MA/NH Chapter’s support group webpage or call the MA/NH Chapter: 617-686-6718. The Alzheimer’s Association will also offer assistance to communities that wish to start their own support groups.
Transportation Services
Dementia-specific training for employed drivers or volunteer transportation services can address the need for safe transportation options. Your local regional transit authority mostly likely offers a course for van and bus drivers on serving riders with dementia.
Workplace Training
While dementia awareness is universally needed, particular sectors of the community play crucial roles in supporting and addressing the sensitive needs of people with dementia and often encounter community residents living with memory loss. Training can be offered in any workplace but may be considered essential for first responders and law enforcement who may encounter someone with dementia in a state of distress or paranoia.
Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning—and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. These functions include memory, language skills, visual perception, problem-solving, self-management, and the ability to focus and pay attention. Some people with dementia cannot control their emotions, and their personalities may change. Dementia ranges in severity from the mildest stage, when it is just beginning to affect a person’s functioning, to the most severe stage, when the person must depend entirely on others for necessary activities of living.
The Alzheimer’s Association reminds us that “Dementia is not a single disease. It’s an overall term to describe a collection of symptoms that one may experience if they are living with a variety of diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Diseases grouped under the general term “dementia” are caused by abnormal brain changes. Dementia symptoms trigger a decline in thinking skills, also known as cognitive abilities, severe enough to impair daily life and independent function. They also affect behavior, feelings and relationships.”
Signs and symptoms of dementia result when once-healthy neurons (nerve cells) in the brain stop working, lose connections with other brain cells, and die. While everyone loses some neurons as they age, people with dementia experience far greater loss. While dementia is more common as people age (up to half of all people age 85 or older may have some form of dementia), it is not a normal part of aging. Many people live into their 90s and beyond without any signs of dementia.
- Alzheimer’s Association: What is Dementia
- Alzheimer’s Association: What Causes Memory Loss? Assessing Symptoms and Seeking Help
- Alzheimer’s Association: Evaluating Memory and Thinking Problems: What to Expect
- Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures (PDF), an annual report released by the Alzheimer’s Association, reveals the burden of Alzheimer’s and dementia on individuals, caregivers, government and the nation’s health care system.
- World Health Organization fact sheets on dementia
- Mayo Clinic- Dementia Overview
Map of AF/DF Communities (maintained by MHAC)
| Agawam | Amesbury | Adams | Alford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington | Aquinnah | Athol | Ashfield |
| Avon | Bedford | Barnstable | Barre |
| Becket | Belchertown | Bernardston | Billerica |
| Boston | Brookline | Charlton | Cheshire |
| Chilmark | Clarksburg | Cohasset | Colrain |
| Charlemont | Conway | Dalton | Deerfield |
| Dennis | Dudley | Duxbury | East Longmeadow |
| Edgartown | Egremont | Erving | Essex |
| Fall River | Florida | Franklin | Gill |
| Gloucester | Great Barrington | Greenfield | Groton |
| Hadley | Hamilton | Hancock | Hinsdale |
| Holland | Hopkinton | Hudson | Lanesborough |
| Lee | Lenox | Leverett | Leyden |
| Longmeadow | Lunenburg | Manchester by the Sea | Mansfield |
| Marlborough | Marion | Marshfield | Monson |
| Montague | Monterey | Mount Washington | New Ashford |
| New Marlborough | New Salem | North Adams | Northborough |
| Northfield | Northampton | Norwood | Oak Bluffs |
| Orange | Otis | Peru | Petersham |
| Pittsfield | Plymouth | Reading | Richmond |
| Rockport | Sandisfield | Savoy | Sharon |
| Sheffield | Shutesbury | Somerville | South Hadley |
| Springfield | Sterling | Stockbridge | Sturbridge |
| Sudbury | Sunderland | Swampscott | Taunton |
| Tisbury | Tyringham | Ware | Warwick |
| Washington | Wendell | Wenham | West Springfield |
| West Stockbridge | West Tisbury | Whatley | Wilbraham |
| Williamstown | Windsor | Worcester |
Toolkits, Guides, Support, and Data
- Age & Dementia Friendly Integration Toolkit: Community efforts to become age friendly or dementia friendly stem from two separate movements. However, when communities take steps to integrate the work of both movements, they can reduce duplicated efforts, avoid confusion, save resources, and allow each movement to strengthen and support each other.
- Dementia Friendly America’s Sector Guides, printable documents and videos that provide insights about challenges people with dementia may face when interacting with these sectors and measures that can be taken to alleviate difficulties.
- Alzheimer’s Assoc 24/7 help and support, the 800-272-3900 24/7 helpline, and amazingly rich website full of information, trainings, and access to community-specific services.
- MA Healthy Aging Collaborative (MHAC), a nonprofit assisting and amplifying age- and dementia-friendly communities in Massachusetts and leading efforts such as digital equity and the MA Healthy Aging Data Report. MHAC has a searchable resource library.
- AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities
- AARP Livable Communities
- Memory Café Toolkit and Virtual/Hybrid Supplement, developed by Jewish Family & Children’s Service
- Dementia-Friendly Transportation: Massachusetts Transit Assistance Programs offer a series of trainings for community drivers, including one on serving riders with disabilities.
- MCOA Members only: InfoHub AF/DF Forum
Trainings & Presentations
Dementia Friends Massachusetts, a program providing well designed, one-hour dementia-sensitivity trainings via Zoom for anyone who is interested. Trained Dementia Friends can then take a subsequent training to become Dementia Champions, which prepares them to provide Dementia Friends info sessions in their communities. (This is distinct from the Dementia Friendly MA initiative–check out their website to learn more.)
My Healthy Brain links and materials (more information coming soon)
Alzheimer’s Association presentations and training opportunities: Towns can request free, in-person or virtual education programs or presentations from the Alzheimer’s Association MA/NH Chapter. Topics include ten warning signs, understanding Alzheimer’s and dementia, brain health, and caregiving. To request a program or find out more information, please call 617-868-6718 or visit the Request a Speaker page on the chapter’s website.
Alzheimer’s Association’s online training for first responders
Alzheimer’s Association’s “Request a Speaker” program
Alzheimer’s Association’s on-demand education program library
Grants
Categories of SIG grants are subject to change, but the FY25 categories most relevant to DFM work were for Memory Cafés, Age-and Dementia-Friendly initiatives, and Caregiver Respite. The link takes you to an overview of the FY25 grant timeline, which will be similar for FY26.
- Community Compact Best Practices Grants
- Point32 Health Foundation Grants
- AARP Community Challenge Grants
Prevention, Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Clinical Trials
- “Can Alzheimer’s Disease Be Prevented?” Current research and advice from the Alzheimer’s Association
- 10 Healthy Habits for your Brain
- Alzheimer’s Association Healthy Brain Initiative
- My Healthy Brain Program
- Healthy Aging & Nutrition guidance for prevention
- Alzheimer’s Association: What Causes Memory Loss? Assessing Symptoms and Seeking Help
- Alzheimer’s Association: Early Detection and Diagnosis
- Alzheimer’s Association: Evaluating Memory and Thinking Problems: What to Expect
- Clinical Trials, Alzheimer’s Association
- Clinical Trials, on Alheimers.gov, a web resource maintained by the US Dept. of Human Services
Dementia Friendly Infrastructure
There are well defined design guidelines for making residences and apartment buildings suitable for people living with dementia. They are worth reading for those, like Councils on Aging, who run and maintain Senior Centers.
- Age and Dementia Friendly Design Considerations for Physical Infrastructure, prepared by the MA Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias, published in 2022
- Best Practices for Dementia-Friendly Emergency Shelters (Access to PDF document coming soon)
Podcasts, Video, and Publications
Podcasts
- Speaking of Alzheimer’s is a podcast produced by the New England region of the Alzheimer’s Association and hosted by Kristin Cusato, Director of Communications for the Alzheimer’s Association, CT Chapter. Kristen and her guests have conversations with people living with dementia, their caregivers, researchers, and others, exploring a range of topics and experiences.
- Dementia Untangled is a podcast (episodes are around a half hour) that explores unique topics related to dementia through conversations with physicians, experts, and community leaders.
- For a first-hand account about living with dementia, explore The Forgetting, a podcast co-hosted by esteemed experts, David Shenk and Greg O’Brien. In 2009 O’Brien was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and through this podcast, describes his daily experiences living with the disease.
Podcasts for people with dementia
- The Dementia Action Alliance produces and hosts four podcasts: Professional Insights, This Dementia Life, Calling all Voices, and Special Features.
- Visit the DFM Youtube Channel for playlists that further explore dementia and the importance of dementia-friendly communities in supporting the independence of people with dementia.
- The ReiMAgine Aging podcast tells the story of the age- and dementia-friendly movement taking place across Massachusetts. The Commonwealth joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities in 2018. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs collaborated with the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative to highlight local efforts and report on the progress to become an Age- and Dementia-Friendly Commonwealth. Listen to the stories below to hear the voices that make our communities a great place to grow up and grow older.
Publications: Journals, Articles, Reports, and Plans
- The Alzheimer’s Association offers downloadable PDFs about a wide range of topics related to Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
- American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementias
- Geriatric Mental Health Care Journal
- Innovation in Aging (journal)
- “Organizational Characteristics of Senior Centers and Engagement in Dementia-Friendly Communities,” Innovation in Aging, 2023, 7, by Clara J. Scher, Ceara Somerville, Emily A. Greenfield, and Caitlin Coyle
- Age-Friendly Massachusetts Action Plan 2019
- World Health Organization: Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025
Partner organizations
- Massachusetts Councils on Aging, lead organization
- AARP MA
- Alzheimer’s Association MA/NH Chapter
- Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, UMass Boston
- Dementia Friendly America
- Executive Office of Elder Affairs
- Jewish Family & Children’s Service, Boston
- MA Healthy Aging Collaborative
- Point32 Health Foundation
DFM Leadership Team
Madeline “Maddie” Noonan, Assistant Director, MCOA, madeline@mcoaonline.org
Hayley Wood, Economic Security & Outreach Manager, MCOA, hayley@mcoaonline.org
Elizabeth “Betsy” Connell, Executive Director, MCOA, elizabeth@mcoaonline.org
Caitlin Coyle, Director, Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging, Gerontology Institute, UMass Boston, caitlin.coyle@umb.edu
James Fuccione, Senior Director, Massachusetts Health Aging Collaborative, james.fuccione@mahealthyaging.org
Pam MacLeod, Senior Program Development Associate, Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, pam.macleod@state.ma.us
Nicole McGurin, Programs & Services Director, Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts New Hampshire Chapter, nmcGurin@alz.org
Beth Soltzberg, Director of Jewish Family & Children’s Service Alzheimer’s/Related Disorders Family Support, bsoltzberg@jfcsboston.org
Crystal Polizzotti, CDP, Director, Family Caregiver Support Program, AgeSpan, cpolizzotti@agespan.org
Antron Watson, Age Friendly Director, AARP Massachusetts, awatson@aarp.org