Cranston Senior Enrichment Center is looking to remove the taboo of dementia. There is a lot of shame and stigma about the condition and, to address this, the center is holding outreach sessions to teach caregivers, families and the public about dementia. The next event will be held at 7 p.m. on April 26 at the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center.

“The reality is every one of us is going to be touched by some form of dementia or some form of mild cognitive impairment,” said Maria Rondeau, Special Projects Coordinator at Cranston Department of Senior Services.

April’s event titled “Dementia: Ten Warning Signs and Caregiving” will feature three speakers. Sandra Fournier, chief program officer for CareLink, will discuss the 10 warning signs of dementia while Ann, a retired clinical social worker, will share her journey of living with Alzheimer’s disease and how it has impacted herself and her family. Lastly, the center’s Director of Social Services Division Jennifer Kevorkian will share her story on the emotional and physical impact of being a caregiver.

Assistant Director of the Cranston Department of Senior Services David Quiroa added that sharing personal experiences will help people realize they are not alone and that there are resources available to assist them.

Kevorkian said people may not realize there are programs out there ready to help them. In her caregiving situation, she ended up getting two programs to work in conjunction with one another and utilized the center’s Adult Day Services program.

Learning more about memory loss may also help individuals identify cognitive impairment in their own lives or in someone else’s.

“The sooner you know you may have this disease the better it is because you can organize your affairs,” said Quiroa.

He added that Alzheimer’s is a life-course disease, and it’s all about the quality of life one has from the point of diagnosis to their eventual passing.

The center is working to make Cranston a dementia-friendly city by educating business owners, caregivers and community members about how to work and be respectful of those who may have memory loss. The organization also hosts four memory related events each year – all of which are well attended.

Quiroa said when events end, people leave right away. However, with their past dementia-friendly events, individuals stay for more information and to talk among themselves which fosters community support.

The center has also conducted dementia-friendly training with Fidelity Bank and Meals on Wheels. Quiroa added that those who deliver meals are seeing seniors every day and may see changes or behaviors which they can report to supervisors so the individuals receive help. In other words, everyone needs to keep an eye out for each other.

The Cranston Senior Enrichment Center has also grabbed the attention of universities and regional hospitals that are working on memory loss studies. Most recently, the center started a partnership with Rhode Island Hospital that is looking to develop a computerized test that – once complete – will allow primary care doctors to do an evaluation for dementia that will take about 15 minutes on a tablet.

The Department of Health is also developing a needs assessment survey to help people understand what the community knows and feels about dementia and what they know about existing resources. 

Funding for the center’s upcoming program and other signature events come from the dementia-friendly Rhode Island Department of Health grant. To register for the “Dementia: Ten Warning Signs and Caregiving,” please call 401-780-6000. The event will be held at the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center located at 1070 Cranston St., Cranston. Refreshments will be served and respite care is available at no cost (must sign up when registering). This event has limited space and is open to the public.