Ohio Council For Cognitive Health

THE MISSION IS TO SUPPORT INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS WITHIN THE STATE OF OHIO RELATING TO COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS AND CHANGES THROUGH THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS.

FULL FRAMING, DEVELOPMENT AND PILOT LAUNCHING OF MAKING MEMORIES: MEANINGFUL MEMORY TOOLKITS. THE GOAL OF THIS INITIATIVE, PILOTED THROUGH AND DEVELOPED WITH THE SUMMIT COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM, IS TO CREATE MEMORY KITS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES AND GUIDELINES, THAT RE-FRAME THE WAY FAMILIES, CARE COMMUNITIES AND CARE PARTNERS (BOTH IN HOME AND IN FORMAL CARE SETTINGS) INTERACT WITH AND CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY DEMENTIA AND MEMORY LOSS. THE OVERALL INTENT IS TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE INTERACTION WITH PEOPLE WITH MEMORY LOSS AND TO UPLIFT THOSE AROUND THE INDIVIDUAL BY CREATING A SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS. WE CREATED AND LAUNCHED KITS COMPLETE WITH 20 ACTIVITIES AND RELATED CURRICULUM, TEXT, AND DIRECTIONS TO FACILITATE POSITIVE MEMORIES AND MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES THAT UPLIFT BOTH THE INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR CARE PARTNERS.

SERVING THOSE LIVING WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) AND DEMENTIA. INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH DOWN SYNDROME ARE AT INCREASED RISK OF DEVELOPING DEMENTIA AS THEY AGE. OCFCH, ALONG WITH A GROWING NETWORK OF STATEWIDE PARTNERS, GREATLY EXPANDED OHIO'S WORK TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN DEMENTIA-INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHER CARE PARTNERS. USING THE DEMENTIA FRIENDS FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY OCFCH, ALONG WITH OUR RELATED BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS PROGRAMMING, WE ARE BUILDING AWARENESS ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND HOW FAMILIES, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN HELP INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHO ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF DEMENTIA. AS PART OF THIS INITIATIVE, FAMILIES ARE NOW CONNECTING WITH A CARE COACHING PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, WE DEVELOPED THE FIRST EVER DEMENTIA FRIENDS PROGRAM FOR THOSE LIVING WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN HOW TO BEST SUPPORT FRIENDS, PEERS, CO-WORKERS, HOUSE-MATES, AND OTHER ACQUAINTANCES WHO ARE LIVING WITH BOTH IDD AND DEMENTIA.

DEMENTIA FRIENDS FOR THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION AND CORRECTION. OLDER ADULTS COMPRISE THE FASTEST GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC IN INCARCERATED SETTINGS AND AGE IS THE NUMBER ONE RISK FACTOR FOR DEMENTIA. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN INCARCERATED SETTINGS WITH DEMENTIA WILL DOUBLE BY 2030 AND TRIPLE BY 2050. PARTNERING WITH THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION AND CORRECTION, THE OHIO COUNCIL FOR COGNITIVE HEALTH DEVELOPED AND PILOTED THE COUNTRY'S FIRST DEMENTIA FRIENDS PROGRAM FOR INCARCERATED SETTINGS. PARTICIPATION IN THE LIVE ON-LINE PROGRAM WAS REQUIRED OF ALL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH, AND LONG-TERM CARE STAFF MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE SYSTEM. THE PRE AND POST ONLINE SEMINAR SURVEY PROVIDED COMPELLING EVIDENCE FOR EXPANDING THE PROGRAM TO ALL ODRC STAFF.