2021 Achievements

Important dates:

• May 6 – Date of Incorporation as a Michigan Nonprofit Corporation
• May 12 – First board meeting and election of officers
• July 15 – Launch/Announcement
• August 21 -IRS approval of 501(c) 3 tax-exempt status
• October 12 - Featured in Wall Street Journal
• November 10 – Notified of 2022 grant award to develop training and support the development of 4 new Dementia Minds groups in Michigan

Developed two new Dementia Minds groups:

• Recruited 6 new volunteers to support the new groups
• Created & conducted a video presentation with each group
• Number of persons living with dementia in each of the new groups has continued to grow

Educational events:

• 30 Educational Events for 3,795 people
  • Included educational events for
    • Persons living with dementia
    • Family & friends
    • Care Partners
    • Medical students
    • Mental health professionals
    • Assisted living providers
    • Healthcare providers
    • Researchers
    • Area Agency on Aging and Senior Center staff
  • Conferences included
    • Grand Valley State University Art & Science of Aging Conference
    • Michigan Assisted Living Association Conference & Dementia Summit
    • Due West UMC Conference
    • Area Agency on Aging Association of Michigan Conference
    • Teepa Snow’s PAC conference
  • Dementia Minds: Family & Friends series
    • A series of 5 sessions - attendance ranged from 59 to 38 people including 12 to 22 people living with dementia

Participated in research projects:

• Google related to phone accessibility for persons living with dementia
• Alzheimer’s Association and Quinnipiac University related to developing a strength-based approach to measure wellbeing for persons living with dementia
• University of Michigan related to pain and memory loss

Michigan Dementia Coalition:

• Provide consultation to the Steering Committee
• NCDM participants serve on several committees including the following:
  • Steering
  • Communication
  • Lived Experience
  • Health Care and Provider Education
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In the News: 

• Wall Street Journal
• Next Avenue
• WJR Radio
• AARP MI
• The Modesto Bee
• Billings Gazette
• WJR Morning Wake Up with Dave Akerly
• Morning Sun

Participated in Facebook live events and interviews:

• Inside Dementia Minds with AARP MI
• Teepa Snow’s Courageous Conversations
  • Black Dementia Minds – What is Different about Being Black and Having Dementia
  • Black Dementia Minds – What Could Improve Care for People of Color Living with Dementia?
  • Board President, Bonnie Erickson – Planning for Later Stages of Dementia and End of Life
• PAC’s Live at 5
• Dementia Strong
• Being Patient Alzheimer’s
  • Mark and Brenda Roberts – Paving a New Path in Life After a Dementia Diagnosis
  • Nia Mostacero – A Veterans Alzheimer’s Journey
  • Kimberly & Robert Reid – A Surprising Diagnosis Leads to Advocacy and Fundraising
  • Brian Van Buren – Turning an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis into Purpose
  • Brian LeBlanc – Building a New Life After an Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Provided consultation to Jacquelyn Pogue, documentarian and filmmaker, on strategies to live well with dementia.

Volunteer Dementia Minds Group Support Team Members:

• Heather Comstock
• Erin Wallace
• Rachel Voelkers
• Robert Reid
• Kat Brown
• Dr. Fayron Epps
• Dr. Melissa Vecchi

Key partners:

• MALA
• DH Communications
• Kelley Cawthorne
• Progressive Lifestyles
• AARP MI
• Teepa Snow PAC
• Michigan Dementia Coalition
• Dr. Fayron Epps, Emory University
• Dr. Melissa Harris, Duke University