Understanding Dementia
Dementia is an umbrella term referring to several diagnoses related to cognitive changes.. The Journal of the American Medical Association states, “…dementia is diagnosed only when both memory and another cognitive function are each affected severely enough to interfere with a person’s ability to carry out routine daily activities.” Early detection of dementia-like symptoms is important, because some causes of dementia-like symptoms can be successfully treated – like vitamin deficiencies, tumors, side effects from medications, or problems with the thyroid, kidney, or liver. Early detection allows people living with dementia and care partners to review and discuss options and formulate plans.
Questions? Contact Amy Guerrettaz, Dementia Outreach Specialist, at aguerrettaz@area10agency.org or call 812-935-2582.
- Memory loss disrupting daily life.
- Challenges in planning and problem-solving.
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks like favorite hobbies or recipes.
- Confusion as to time and place.
- Difficulty understanding visual images or spatial relationships resulting in poor balance, not understanding road signs, or trouble reading.
- Difficulty using words either with writing or speaking resulting in making up words and being unable to find words to express oneself.
- Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to locate them.
- Decreased or poor judgement – particularly with managing finances.
- Withdrawing from work or social activities due to noticing changes in one’s cognition or to too much stimulus in work or social environments.
- Changes is mood and personality (increased or out of character frustration/agitation).
Encourage communication.
Be patient with outbursts.
Approach people from the front.
Sit at eye level and make good eye contact.
Address others by name.
Allow 10-20 seconds for a response.
Ask one question at a time.
Use non-verbal communication.
Be aware of your tone of voice and body language.
Remove clutter to avoid falls.
Ensure proper lighting.
Install grab bars and bath chairs in the bathroom.
Remove rugs which are a tripping hazard.
Excessive noise may cause confusion, so limit the number of visitors at one time, decrease the radio/TV volume, and speak in calm tones.
Remove anything from the environment that causes anxiety.
Assist with Memory Cafe: Heather Kinderthain: simplifiedeldercare@gmail.com
Assist with Memory Screenings: Contact Amy Guerrettaz, Dementia Outreach Specialist, at aguerrettaz@area10agency.org or call 812-935-2582.
Become a Dementia Friends Information facilitator certification: https://www.dementiafriendsindiana.org/champions/
Become a Dementia Friendly Business Trainer certification: https://expand.iu.edu/browse/publichealth/courses/dementia-training
Get involved with Alazheimer’s Association of Indiana: https://www.alz.org/indiana
Dementia Friendly Business Training
Show your organization’s commitment to empowering those living with dementia and their care partners to stay active in the community!
How: At least 50% of staff must attend the Dementia Friendly Business Training through an in-person session or online at www.alzresourceindiana.org.
Once the staff requirement is met, the Organization will receive a certificate, window decal, and be added to our online list of certified businesses to be recognized by the community as a Dementia Friendly Location.
What you will learn:
Statistics and Awareness tips for People Living with Dementia
Facts about Dementia
Potential Signs and Symptoms of Dementia
Creating Supportive Physical and Social Environments
Communication Skills and Reacting to Urgent Situations
To schedule a training, contact Amy Guerrettaz at 812-935-2582 or via email at aguerrettaz@area10agency.org
Dementia Friends Information Session
Dementia Friends gives people an understanding of dementia and the small things you can do that make a difference. To schedule an information session, contact Amy Guerrettaz at 812-935-2582 or via email at aguerrettaz@area10agency.org
Local Dementia Resources
Individual / Family Consultation
Our team provides confidential individual and family consultations for those wanting to learn more about diagnosis, brain health, care approaches and resources. Contact the team by completing the form at: https://www.alzresourceindiana.org/new-page-99
Community Education
The ADRS staff regularly facilitates community events designed to help families, professionals, and communities to better understand, support, and engage people living with dementia. Provides Caregiver University Monroe County. See the community events calendar at: https://www.alzresourceindiana.org/http/dfbloomingtonorg/events-community
Support Groups
The ADRS facilitates and collaborates with support groups around the region. Groups include those for care partners and for people living with dementia. All groups are confidential. Find a group on the events calendar: https://www.alzresourceindiana.org/http/dfbloomingtonorg/events-community
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- Care Partner Support Group Monroe County at Stonecroft
- Spouse/Partner Support Group Monroe County at Faith Lutheran
- Care Partner Support Group Owen County at Owen County Library
- Yoga Nidra Monroe County at Center for Wholism
- Side-By-Side Monroe County at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church
Monroe County
Level II Certifications:
A “Level II dementia friendly business” signifies that a company has implemented noticeable environmental changes to make their space more accessible and comfortable for people living with dementia, including clear signage, well-lit areas, non-confusing floor patterns, and staff training to better understand and interact with customers with dementia; essentially, it’s a step beyond basic awareness and involves visible modifications to the physical environment to aid wayfinding and reduce confusion for people with dementia.
- Monroe County Public Library
- Monroe County History Center
- Indiana University Bloomington & Indiana University Cinema
- Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
Level I Certifications:
- Monroe County
- Artisan Alley
- Eskanazi Museum of Art (IU)
- IU Cinema
- Jones Music Therapy (Valerie Jones)
- Lotus Education and Arts Foundation
- Phelps Music Therapy (Deb Phelps)
- Paula Worley, Art Therapist
- Faith Lutheran Church
- St. Thomas Lutheran Church
- Unitarian Universalist Church
- Athletico Physical Therapy West
- Wingard Wellness & Therapy Services
- City of Bloomington Commission on Aging
- City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Dept.
- City of Bloomington Fire Department
- Aging Options and Advocacy
- Anchored Passages
- Area 10 Agency on Aging
- Bell Trace Senior Living
- Comfort Keepers
- Elder Care Home Connections
- Elder’s Journey
- Hickory Audiology
- IU Health Bloomington Community Health Department
- IU Health Bloomington Volunteer Services
- IU Health Bloomington Hospice Services
- Southern Indiana Physicians Neurology
- Kyle R. Ellison, Independent AFLAC Representative
- American Senior Benefits
- Agewise Design
- Consider it Done
- Freitag & Martoglio LLC, Attorneys at Law
- Personal Financial Services
- Like Law Group
- White’s Delivery Service
- Deb Tomaro Real Estate
- Monroe County History Center
- Monroe County Public Library
- Sing for Joy Choir
- Wonderlab
- Bell Trace Senior Living Community
- Jill’s House
- Caveat Emptor Used and Rare Books
- Needmore Coffee
- BeLoved Transportation
- Rural Transit
- People and Animal Learning Services (PALS)
Owen County
- Rural Transit
- Area 10 Agency on Aging
- Owen Valley Fire Territory
Elder’s Journey: 812-334-2489
Simplified Elder Care: 812-278-1072
Facilities in Monroe County:
Aperion Care Monroe: https://aperioncare.com/
Bell Trace Family First Senior Living: https://cardon.us/communities/bell-trace/
Bloomington Nursing and Rehabilitation Center: https://www.facebook.com/AperionCareMonroe/
or https://aperioncare.com/map-location/aperion-care-monroe/?mpfy-pin=12984
Brickyard Healthcare Bloomington Care Center: https://www.brickyardhc.com/
Cedar Creek of Bloomington Memory Care: https://www.cedarhurstliving.com/cedar-creek-bloomington-in-mc
Gentry Park Senior Living: https://gentryparkbloomington.com/
Hearthstone Health Campus: https://trilogyhs.com/senior-living/in/bloomington/hearthstone-health-campus/about/
Jill’s House, https://jillshousememorycare.com/
Majestic Care of Bloomington: https://www.majesticcare.com/location/bloomington/
Meadowood Health Pavilion Respite Care: https://www.fivestarseniorliving.com/communities/in/bloomington/meadowood/respite-care-andshort-term-stays
Richland Bean Blossom Health Care Center: https://www.rbbhcc.org/our-services
Stonecroft Health Campus: https://www.facebook.com/StonecroftHC/ or https://trilogyhs.com/senior-living/in/bloomington/stonecroft-health-campus/
Owen County
Owen Valley Memory Care: https://www.owenvalleyhcr.com/
Christopher Holly: 812-335-8294
Paige Freitag: 812-676-6030
Lance Like: 812-323-8300
Jessica Merkel: 812-332-9295
Jerry Siefers, Jr.: 812-332-4431
A premier search & rescue program operated internationally by public safety agencies & is strategically designed for “at risk” individuals who are prone to the life-threatening behavior of wandering. The primary mission of Project Lifesaver is to provide timely responses to save lives & reduce potential injury for adults and children with the propensity to wander due to a cognitive condition.
The mission of Monroe County Project Lifesaver is to implement the program through screening of potential individuals, providing community education & implementing fundraising to assist those in need of Project Lifesaver. Contact Lt. Paul Ford, Van Buren Township Fire Department at 812-360-4251.
https://bloomington.in.gov/public-safety/special-needs-registry
Smart911 is the only way to provide lifesaving information directly to 9-1-1 and first responders in an emergency. Sign up for Smart911 and create a secure safety profile for your household. If you ever call 9-1-1, the call taker can see the emergency information you want them to see. Emergency responders can then use this key information to help you faster and more efficiently.
monroehistory.org/livingwithhistory/
The Living with History program is free and available to anyone living with dementia and caring for those experiencing dementia. Our programs and activities are designed to encourage memory sharing, increase communication, and enhance daily life. Come join us and learn how the Monroe County History Center and the Living with History program can assist you!
Memory Boxes
Our interactive Memory Boxes are themed boxes available for a one-week rental. A great way to spark conversations with a loved one or group, a Memory Box engages the senses while encouraging reminiscences. As the Living with History program continues, more boxes and themes will become available.
Memory Walks
Memory Walks will be open to the public in 2024 every fourth Monday of the month.
Memory Lane Cafes
Memory Lane Cafes are available to local community organizations and facilities upon request. Memory Lane Cafes hosted at the History Center will take place every three months.
Care Partner Trainings
The Monroe County History Center offers training workshops for friends and family care partners the center on objects, photographs, ephemera, and their associated stories housed at the Monroe County History Center. Care partners will learn what types of memory activities and resources are available and how to use them to communicate with people living with dementia.
Self-Guided Gallery Tour is available at the welcome desk and online.
The Commission on Aging serves as a catalyst for improving public awareness of the senior and aging community. We work in collaboration with diverse community members and organizations to build bridges, open dialogue, celebrate accomplishments, encourage programming, and explore issues and concerns of older adults. Our intent is to promote solutions to the problems and challenges and celebrate the contributions of our older citizens.
Contact Marissa Parr-Scott at marissa.parrscott@bloomington.in.gov or 812-349-3430.
The Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office runs the Adult Protective Services (APS) program for Unit 10 covering Monroe, Owen and Morgan counties. Adult Protective Services investigates reports of “endangered adults” and may take legal action to protect incapacitated adults harmed or threatened with harm because of neglect (including self-neglect), battery or exploitation. Investigators may take appropriate legal action and/or refer individuals for medical or psychiatric resources in the community to protect the health and safety of endangered adults. Such referrals for services may include the Area 10 Agency on Aging, residential placement facilities, agencies serving individuals with disabilities, mental health centers, or other social service providers.
- 911 – If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 for emergency assistance from local law enforcement.
- Make a confidential report to Adult Protective services:
- Indiana Adult Protective Services Hotline at 1-800-992-6978.
- Online Confidential Report at https://www.monroeprosecutor.us/criminal-justice/adult-protective-services/confidential-online-report/
- Call Adult Protective Services in Area 10 at 812-349-2665.
- Email Area 10 APS at APS10@co.monroe.in.us
Southern Indiana Physicians Neurology
https://iuhealth.org/find-locations/southern-indiana-physicians-neurology-583-s-clarizz-blvd
Brian Moore, MD
Dr. Jamie C. Bales, MD
Telephone: 812-330-0303
