Dementia Friendly Communities

Dementia Friendly Communities

The Alzheimer Society of Toronto is committed to supporting and building a Dementia Friendly Community.

Dementia Friendly Communities

What is a Dementia Friendly Community?

A Dementia Friendly Community is a place where people living with dementia and their care partners are welcomed, included and supported. It is a community that pays attention to the social and physical needs of the person living with dementia.

The 50,000+ people living with dementia in Toronto and their care partners are your potential customers, clients, and neighbours. They may face challenges accessing your goods or services. By learning more about dementia and working together, community members, business, and organizations can promote the independence and safety of people living with dementia.  The Alzheimer Society of Toronto’s goal is to educate the community so that our neighbourhoods are places where people living with dementia and their care partners feel valued and empowered.

What is a Dementia Friendly Communities (DFC) Training?

DFC training is designed to help organizations and groups create environments that are safe, accessible, and supportive for people living with dementia.

It covers topics such as:

  • Recognizing the potential signs and symptoms of dementia based on the audience context
  • Considerations of inclusive physical spaces
  • Communication strategies based on the audience context

How can my community/organization/group Access DFC ) training?

** the e-learning course is designed for recreation and library, restaurant and retail, and public transportation sectors

What is a Dementia Friendly Supporter Organization?

A Dementia Friendly Supporter Organization is any organization or group where 75% of their client/public facing staff have received DFC training.  Depending on the size of the organization or the nature of the work, the recognition can be applied to the whole organization, a department or a team.

What are the Benefits of being a Dementia Friendly Supporting Organization?

Organizations that become a Dementia Friendly Supporter Organization will receive:

  • A Dementia-Friendly Decal – to be displayed on your business or storefront.  Decals can be displayed for up to 1 year without a follow-up call/visit
  • Featured Listing on the Toronto Dementia Network (TDN) – Your organization will be added as a prominent and featured listing in our Toronto Dementia Network service directory
  • A Dementia Friendly Pin that your staff can wear
  • Acknowledgement through our newsletter/website

Have Questions?

To get started or to learn more, contact a Public Education Coordinator at education@alz.to

*The material was created by TCD, through the NEIL Programme at the Institute of Neuroscience with support from GENIO. © 2014 The Provost, Fellows, Foundations Scholars, and the Other Members of Board, of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity Of Queen Elizabeth, near Dublin. Permission to use this material was granted by TCD which reserves all rights in the material.