Dementia Capable Communities
The Dementia Capable Communities team was assembled in 2021. The team is a collaboration of researchers, persons living with dementia, care partners, community service providers and other community members.
We used a participatory approach in this project, involving persons living with dementia, care partners and community members involved in every level of the project.
Modules
The learning modules help people to develop the knowledge and skills for supporting people living with dementia and creating a more supportive and inclusive community.
Journey Maps and Video
This video and the journey maps help people to understand barriers that people with dementia encounter in their community and actions that can support their participation and inclusion.
Action Plan
This Action Plan is a resource for municipalities, community members, and groups seeking to better respect and support people living with dementia. People living with dementia have a right to equitable participation in their communities. This document serves as a starting point for these groups to develop their own local Dementia Capable Community Action Plan.
Building a Dementia Capable Community
Dementia Capable Communities Team Members
Principal Investigator
- Laura Middleton – University of Waterloo
- Samantha Biglieri – Toronto Metropolitan University
Co-Investigators
- Jim Mann – Person with lived experience of dementia
- Roger Marple – Person with lived experience of dementia
- Kathleen Vanderlinden – Person with lived experience of dementia
- Frank Palmer – Person with lived experience of dementia
- Bethany Pearce – City of Kitchener
- Michelle Martin – Alzheimer Society of Waterloo-Wellington
- Dr. Rachel Weldrick – Concordia University
- Dr. Meghan Joy – Concordia University
- Dr. Lili Liu – University of Waterloo
- Dr. Kim Lopez – University of Waterloo
- Dr. Carrie McAiney – University of Waterloo
- Dr. Sherry Dupuis – University of Waterloo
- Dr. Jen Boger – ESG.ai & University of Waterloo
Neighbourhood Steering Team
- Carrie Briscoe – St. Jacob’s Business Improvement Area
- Suk Jeong – Community Health Caring K-W
- John Schreiter
- Kathleen Vanderlinden
- Amy Ross – City of Waterloo
- Jeremy Vink – Township of Woolwich
- Bob Murray
- Joanne Weiler
- Dawn Konig
- Linda Baxter
- Paul Lea
Staff & Students
- Crystal-Jade Cargill – University of Waterloo
- Neha Ahmed – University of Waterloo
- Melissa Koch – Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging
- Dr. Sarah Main – University of Waterloo
- Huda Nasir – University of Waterloo
- Nada Nasir – University of Waterloo
- Olivia Tupling – University of Waterloo
- Roslyn Vijayakumar – Toronto Metropolitan University
Regional Working Group
- All members of the Neighbourhood Steering Team and:
- Kevin Bowman
- Cheryl Fisher
- Margaret Burnett
- Nicole Goodbrand – City of Cambridge
- Elyssa Pompa – City of Kitchener
- Pamela Albrecht – City of Waterloo
- Gerald Gajkowsky – Waterloo Regional Police Services
- Kim Hill – Waterloo Regional Police Services
- Pat Morabito – Grand River Transit
- David Steffler – Grand River Transit
- J.T. Pearson – Kiwanis Transit
- Jim Keller – St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
- Mikael Beijbom – Mayor’s Advisory Committee for Kitchener Seniors & Waterloo Region Age Friendly Network
- Erma Friedsen – Waterloo Region Age Friendly Network
- Julia Gingrich – Waterloo Public Library
- Matilda Kress – Region of Waterloo
- Kathryn Lyons – University of Waterloo
- Cindy Rossignoli – Community Connections
- Jennifer MacDonald – Community Connections
- David Patterson – YMCAs of Three Rivers
- Elise MacDonald – African Family Revival Organization
- Isinino – African Family Revival Organization
- Max Bergelt
- Cheryl Peterson – Elmira District Community Living
Dementia Capable Communities Partners
Grand River Transit
Waterloo Regional Police Services
Region of Waterloo
City of Cambridge
Kiwanis Transit
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
City of Waterloo
Township of Woolwich
African Family Revival Organization
Dementia Capable Communities Funder
The Dementia Capable Communities project draws upon research supported by the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF).