Implementation of Dementia Friends in Washington State
Author Information
Author(s): Katie Zeitler
Primary Institution: University of Washington
Hypothesis
The implementation of Dementia Friends will improve community awareness and attitudes towards dementia.
Conclusion
The Dementia Friends program successfully increased awareness and improved attitudes towards dementia in Washington State.
Supporting Evidence
- Dementia Attitudes Scale scores improved after a Dementia Friends session.
- The improvement in scores was maintained through a one-month follow-up.
- The program expanded from 214 participants in 3 counties in 2019 to 2,170 participants in 24 counties in 2024.
Takeaway
Dementia Friends helps people understand dementia better, and more people are joining the program to learn and share this knowledge.
Methodology
The program used a train-the-trainer model to deliver information sessions about dementia.
Limitations
Challenges include cultivating community partnerships in rural areas and underserved populations.
Participant Demographics
Participants included community members from various counties in Washington State.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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