Alexandria, VA – As the number of Virginians with dementia grows, Goodwin House Incorporated (GHI) has taken a dramatic step to expand the Dementia friendly environment across its organization. GHI has worked with every one of its more than 900 employees to ensure they have completed the information sessions to become Dementia Friends. GHI is now among only two senior living organizations in the Commonwealth of Virginia that can verify that every employee is a Dementia Friend.
“Nearly 140,000 Virginians currently live with Alzheimer’s, and that number is projected to grow by more than 35 percent over the next six years,” said Rob Liebreich, GHI President and CEO. “The more we do today to build awareness for Dementia, the more we help families who are themselves living with it. By fostering a deeper understanding of Dementia across our region, we are uniting entire communities to support those living with Dementia as well as their families and care givers.”
As a premier Northern Virginia senior living and care organization, Goodwin House touches the lives of nearly 1,200 older adults that reside in its life plan communities as well as older adults that age in place in their homes. Goodwin House initiatives to build awareness for Dementia also include a wide range of education sessions for residents and family members.
Launched by the Alzheimer’s Society in the United Kingdom and underway in the United States, the Dementia Friends initiative strives to “change people’s perceptions of Dementia” and transform the way communities and nations think, act and talk about the condition. Citizens can become Dementia Friends by completing an online information session and committing to action to build awareness for Dementia, click HERE.
