Concord Park Presents Dementia Education Program to Concord Academy Students
CONCORD, MA— Concord Park Senior Living welcomed students from Concord Academy to go through their Dementia Awareness & Sensitivity Training, offering them the opportunity to learn more about the experiences of those living with dementia as well as how to interact with them in ways that make them feel seen and heard in the community.
Concord Park’s Director of Community Relations, Maryellen King, presented Making Sense of Dementia to the students, which encompassed the definitions of Alzheimer’s and dementia, skills for listening to and communicating effectively with those living with dementia, and how to approach them with compassion, patience, and kindness.
The Making Sense of Dementia presentation is just one component of Dementia Friendly Communities, an initiative launched by Concord Park’s management company, Senior Living Residences. The movement aims to fight the stigma against those living with dementia. Through empowering and befriending people with dementia, Dementia Friendly Communities helps them feel valued in their communities so that they can have their voices heard and their contributions appreciated.
This eye-opening presentation was a great way for students to discover more about the unique issues and experiences those living with dementia face. It also introduces them to the possibility of working in the senior living industry in the hopes of younger generations making a positive impact in the lives of seniors.
Concord Park offers Independent Living, Assisted Living and a state-of-the-art Compass Memory Support Neighborhood® featuring innovative, research-based programming for those with memory loss. Seniors residing at Concord Park enjoy a secure, supportive, enriching lifestyle with gracious accommodations, personalized services, and many amenities. Concord Park is a Volunteers of America Massachusetts (VOA MA) community and the organization’s first senior community in Massachusetts to offer this combination of housing and supportive services. The community is managed by Senior Living Residences of Braintree, MA. For more information visit www.ConcordPark.org or call 978-369-4728.
To learn more about the Dementia Friendly initiative and how Concord Park can bring this training to you, contact Maryellen King at mking@concordpark.org.