Dementia Friendly Corpus Christi AAA HomeAbout AAAAboutRegional MapMission StatementDementia Friendly Corpus Christi Advisory CouncilAdvisory CouncilSub-CommitteesBy LawsAdvisory Council MembersACOA Agenda & MinutesProgramsProgramsTransportationSenior CentersMedication ManagementMatter of BalanceMIPPAOmbudsmanNutrition ProvidersHome-Delivered Meal SitesCongregate Meal SitesInformation Referral & AssistanceFamily CaregiverCare CoordinationBenefits CounselingResourcesResourcesAging DirectoryNewslettersCalendar of EventsHelpful LinksContact Us Dementia Friendly Communities are emerging around the world. Dementia Friendly America is leading the way in the U.S. In Texas we now have Dementia Friendly Cities as designated by DFA. Corpus Christi has become the 6th city in Texas. What is a Dementia Friendly Community? A Dementia Friendly Community is Informed, Safe and Respectful of individuals with symptoms of dementia, their families and caregivers. It provides supportive options that foster quality of life.Why is a dementia friendly Community important? Improves the lives of people living with dementiaKeeps people in early to middle stages at home longerSupports family caregiversEncourages person-centered care in all sectors of the communityInvolves non-traditional partners and the general publicIncreases awareness of dementia, early diagnosis, and disease managementIncreases awareness of resources and how to access them Everyone forgets things at times. How often have you misplaced your car keys or forgotten the name of a person you just met? Some degree of memory problems, as well as a modest decline in other thinking skills, is a common part of aging. There's a difference, however, between normal changes in memory and memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. Some people try to hide memory problems, and some family members or friends compensate for a person's loss of memory, sometimes without being aware of how much they've adapted to the impairment. Getting a prompt diagnosis is important, even if it's challenging. Identifying a reversible cause of memory impairment enables you to get appropriate treatment. More than 58 million people worldwide are currently living with dementia. Over 400,000 of them are Texans. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. Yet, there are many, many more types of dementia including frontotemporal lobe, lewy body and vascular dementia. The total number of people with dementia is projected to reach over 152 million people by 2050. That’s almost half the population of the United States. One in three seniors dies from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. If YOU don’t know someone impacted by dementia today…you will. Why is early diagnosis important? Early diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder is beneficial because you can: begin treatments to manage symptoms, educate yourself and loved ones about the disease, determine future care preferences, identify care facilities or at-home care options and settle financial or legal matters. Dementia Friendly Corpus Christi’s Mission Engages with community partners to educate and empower different sectors of our community with information needed to enhance the dignity of persons living with dementia. We aim to reduce social stigma and isolation. We provide educational and support services to persons diagnosed with dementia, their families, and caregivers. Every part of the community plays a role in creating a dementia friendly culture.Become a dementia friend and participate in one and a half hour Dementia Friends Information Session offered by a Dementia Friends Champion(s). We are here for you. Join us. We will be stronger together.