The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of the Cayman Islands has launched a new community program called “Dementia Friends” with the aim of making the Cayman Islands a safe destination for tourists with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The program aims to train individuals, businesses, and organizations to familiarize themselves with dementia symptoms, interact with sufferers, and handle situations involving memory loss with patience.
Dementia Friends participants can display a distinctive yellow and blue floral logo to signify that their premises are dementia-friendly. Examples include a server at a restaurant remaining patient when a customer forgets their order or a nail technician at a salon understanding a client’s choice of nail polish.
The initiative seeks to enhance the Cayman Islands’ appeal for people with dementia and their caregivers, making it “the destination of choice” for such travelers.
Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan pledged $10,000 from his ministry to support the program and expressed his commitment to making Cayman dementia-friendly.
Dementia Friends is part of a worldwide program that originated in Japan in 2013. In 2020, there were nearly 20 million Dementia Friends programs worldwide, and the initiative has expanded to 56 countries.
One in four people over the age of 65 is expected to be diagnosed with some form of dementia in their lifetime, highlighting the importance of raising awareness and changing perceptions about Alzheimer’s and dementia.
The program also aims to train first responders and 911 operators to recognize and appropriately handle situations involving dementia sufferers who may call emergency services due to confusion or disorientation.
To learn more about becoming a Dementia Friend, visit adacayman.ky or email [email protected].