Community Involvement

Elder-Well^® incorporates outings, volunteerism, intergenerational activities and civic awareness into our program planning to develop and maintain our participants connections in their communities.

We also welcome members of the community to visit our Day Program and share their talents, collections, travel adventures and to spend time with our guests.

People living with dementia still want to take part in their favorite activities, help others in their communities and feel a sense of accomplishment.  If you are taking care of someone at home that has been diagnosed with a cognitive impairment, here are some ideas of how to keep busy with a purpose:

• Take a trip to a farmer’s market and enjoy the sights, smells and tastes they have to offer.
• Put together some flower arrangements or craft some bookmarks and bring them to a local nursing home. Take the time to deliver them to some of the residents together.
• Make homemade dog biscuits and bring them to a local animal shelter.
• Inquire about activities that your local senior centers have scheduled and attend a musical presentation or pizza lunch they have organized.
• Attend a memory café and enjoy time together with other families that are caring for loved ones.
• Visit an antique car show and reminisce about cars in their past.
• Locate a local museum that specializes in a subject, such as stamps or artifacts.
• Attend a youth event such as, a boy scout or girl scout presentation, violin concert at a local elementary school or simply visit a park to watch the children play.

Here are some resources for community involvement:

• Memory Café listings: memorycafedirectory.com
• Local museum information: www.museumsusa.org
• Car show listings: oldcarsweekly.com
• Farmers markets: ams.usda.gov

Visit the link below to read U.S. Administration on Aging’s article:

Living Well with Dementia in the Community

**The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water and food. —Dr. Dean Ornish