Last month, Culpeper Downtown businesses and Culpeper Renaissance Inc. (CRI) staff members joined together for a dementia awareness training session hosted by Aging Together and the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce. The session provided guidance to help restaurant, retail and service establishments feel more comfortable and capable assisting patrons living with dementia.
Dementia Friendly Culpeper is part of a nationwide initiative to spread awareness and create more welcoming and inclusive communities for those living with dementia by training businesses, organizations and their workforce. Training covered basic facts about Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders that cause dementia, warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, tips for communicating and interacting with a person living with dementia, and tips for creating a dementia-friendly physical space.
Businesses that completed the training received a window cling to publicly identify them as dementia friendly, and they were added to the list of dementia friendly businesses on Aging Together’s website and promotional materials. Additionally, CRI will be adding the dementia friendly icon to their Culpeper Downtown Shopping & Dining Guide to identify businesses that have completed the course and are Dementia Friendly certified.
“Many downtown businesses are working to create a community of awareness and dementia-friendly spaces to improve quality of life as we age together. Be on the lookout for ‘We Are Dementia Friendly’ window clings in Culpeper downtown business storefronts.”
Jessica Jenkins, CRI Executive Director
Virginia Main Street (VMS) commends Culpeper for addressing these accessibility challenges and fostering a Main Street that’s for everyone!
Photo Credit: Culpeper Renaissance, Inc.
Virginia Main Street 