BEDFORD—Lawrence County is embarking on an initiative to improve its Dementia-Friendly County status, a crucial step given the growing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias nationwide. Diana Matthews of the Rural Dementia Network/IU Health presented the no-cost proposal to the county Commissioners on Tuesday morning.
“The initiative seeks to equip local businesses and organizations with the knowledge and tools to serve better individuals living with dementia and their caregivers,” said Matthews. ” This will be achieved through a free, approximately hour-long training session in the voter registration voting area.”
“Over 6 million people across the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease,” noted information provided by the initiative. “These numbers will touch us all because they represent family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, colleagues, clients, and customers,” added Matthews.
The Dementia Friendly Business Training will cover essential topics such as understanding dementia and its signs, tips for communicating and interacting with individuals with dementia, and advice for creating dementia-friendly physical spaces.
Organizations that complete the training will earn recognition as Dementia Friendly Businesses and receive a window decal to display, signifying their commitment to the community. They will also be recognized on the Dementia Friendly Facebook Page and Website.
Recent statistics underscore the urgency of such initiatives. Nearly 7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s. The disease kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. By 2050, the costs associated with Alzheimer’s and other dementias are projected to nearly quadruple, from an estimated $360 billion in 2024 to almost $1 trillion. In Lawrence County, there are 9,320 residents over the age of 65. Of that number, 1 in 9 has dementia. More than 1,000 people who have dementia are still living at home.
Commissioner President Rodney Fish voiced that those numbers were staggering, “It is somewhat startling to hear those numbers.”
Caregivers bear a significant burden, with over 11 million Americans providing unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. These caregivers contributed over 18 billion hours in 2024, valued at nearly $347 billion. Alarmingly, 70% of dementia caregivers report feeling stressed when coordinating care, and more than half find navigating healthcare difficult. However, three in five dementia caregivers feel mental health benefits from having a care navigator, with 56% stating it helped them be better caregivers.
The training aims to empower the community to provide better support and understanding for those affected by these conditions.
