2021 Becoming Dementia Friendly Summit
The 2021 Summit, held on October 7, 2021, in a virtual format provided opportunities for people to share best practices, learn from each other and support each other.
Dr. Terry Barclay, Neuropsychologist with HealthPartners and ACT on Alzheimer’s Advisory Council member, opened the Summit.
Notes on data and sources in Dr. Barclay's comments:
- People with dementia are at a significantly higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and, when infected, they have a much higher risk of hospitalization — 59% for those with dementia versus 25% for the overall population (National Institute on Aging).
- New research indicates that COVID infections can increase a person’s likelihood of developing dementia and cause dementia symptoms to show up earlier. (Alzheimer's Association)
- For caregivers, a recent survey showed 81% reporting increased levels of stress, and 72% of those caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease at home are “unsure what would happen to their loved one” if they got sick (UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, 2021).
- The pandemic has highlighted the need for community support for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Individuals and families can’t manage the extraordinary demands on their own. Yet, too often fear, the stigma of memory loss and misconceptions about the effects of dementia (AARP, 2021) stand in the way of effective community support.
