On April 15th, the school will host its first information session with guest speakers from SWIRCA, Wood Memorial teacher, Sally Morton, and Jean Ross, a Dementia Friends Champion from Central Indiana.
Dementia Friends Indiana is a global movement to educate others about dementia and implement practical changes to make life easier for those who suffer from the disease.
Ms. Morton is a nurse that teaches dementia care classes at Wood Memorial High School. She contacted Dementia Friends and SWIRCA coordinator, Linda Wright, and Jean Ross, after she received a flyer about the program and their interactive webinar “Your Community Matters: Let’s Talk About Dementia”.
After the webinar session, Ms. Morton contacted CICOA to see how she could incorporate DFI into her classes. Now the class will focus on the services and resources that SWIRCA and DFI can provide to anyone with dementia while also breaking the stigmas that surround the disease itself.
SWIRCA & More is proud to join this growing movement by bringing this vital initiative to Southwestern Indiana.
Linda Wright spoke on this new partnership with Ms. Morton, stating, "She is ahead of her time and a model for other teachers. Studies show that ¼ of the caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) are part of the “sandwich generation” who is caring for a child under 18 as well as the PLWD. We need to educate all age groups on dementia.”
For more information on SWIRCA & More or Dementia Friends Indiana, please visit SWIRCA's website or call 812-464-7800.
