What can we do?

However, everyone can make a difference when it comes to creating a dementia-friendly community. Not only authorities, companies, associations, or organisations , but also individuals: everyone can contribute in his/her own way to make the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers more pleasant. This can also ensure that people with dementia can stay at home longer.

For example:

• A counter employee of the municipality can respond patiently to all questions from someone who is forgetful and the housing corporation can trains its employees to deal better with people with dementia.
• A local police officer can help persons with dementia back on their way home.
• The pupils of the primary school can regularly meet elderly people with memory problems to do something creative together with them.
• The library can start a ‘local history circle’ and collect old photos for a neighbourhood walk with people with dementia.
• The club mate of a football club can take a person with dementia to an exciting match and the neighbour next door can regularly invite for a cup of coffee.

Enough examples to mention where a small gesture can mean a lot.

Watch the video about the trip to remember (IN DUTCH LANGUAGE)