Hero Story

The non-profit Dementia Friendly Saline stood up just as COVID was shutting everything down, but not before the non-profit succeeded in getting Saline nationally recognized as only the second Dementia Friendly Community in Michigan. (It is today by far the most active of an increasing number of such communities). Its objective is to help persons with dementia live in the community with less difficulty and more dignity. Dementia Friendly raises awareness about dementia, its prevalence and the difficulties people with dementia face in their daily lives shopping, dining out, doing business, worshipping, enjoying theatre and concerts. Through free information sessions adapted to any organization, Dementia Friendly Saline volunteers explain easy ways to help persons with dementia have an easier time.
And they help persons with dementia and their caregivers directly by providing enjoyable events where both caregiver and their loved one can have a good time in a safe, welcoming, embarrassment-free space while connecting with others on the dementia journey. These include Memory Café afternoon social events, and Dementia Friendly movies at Saline’s Emagine theatre. Also included are periodic dementia friendly arts and crafts fairs, festivals, theatre performances and concerts.
Many of the programs of Dementia Friendly Saline have been shared with multiple other Michigan communities, and they continue to spread.