Contact: Cori Marsh, Dementia Care Specialist, ADRC of Rock County 608.741.3615 or marsh@co.rock.wi.us
Ceremony to Celebrate Completion of Dementia Friendly Training Scheduled for October 9
The Janesville Transit System in conjunction with the Dementia Friendly Initiatives of Rock County completed the criteria to earn the designation of being dementia friendly, becoming the first transit system to do so in the area. These efforts will be celebrated at a brief ceremony on Friday, October 9, 2015. This event will take place at 12:15pm at the Downtown Transfer Center (123 S. River Street, Janesville, WI). All members of the public are welcome and this event will take place rain or shine. During the ceremony brief comments will be made and a dementia friendly decal will be placed on a JTS bus. All members of the public are welcome to attend.
Almost all JTS staff attended a Dementia Friendly Training taught by Molly Nolte, Mobility Manager, Rock County Council on Aging. What this means is Janesville Transit has committed to providing support to those with dementia by learning more about recognizing the disease, communicating with those who may have dementia and being able to direct anyone with questions to community resources. Rebecca Smith, Janesville Transit Director says “JTS is committed to making our customers feel welcome and to transport our patrons safely. Participating in this training was a wonderful way to improve our customer service and learn best practices for interacting with people with dementia.”
Cori Marsh, Dementia Care Specialist of Rock County says, “People with dementia want to maintain their social networks so they continue to have a feeling of belonging, access local facilities and do the things they have always done and find their way around safely. Becoming dementia friendly enables us to support these wishes for those impacted by dementia.” She went on to say, “It is wonderful that Janesville Transit has committed to this important endeavor. We are even prouder to say that Janesville Transit is believed to be the first transit agency to commit to and complete this training in Wisconsin.”
Ms. Marsh currently coordinates the Dementia Friendly Initiatives of Rock County committee. “Members of the group include those impacted by dementia and their care partners, community members in general, businesses and healthcare agencies that have come together and discuss how ‘dementia friendly’ could look in Rock County and make a plan to implement those strategies,” says Marsh. She goes on to say, “we are always looking to expand our group, or hear from others that have any thoughts or ideas.” There are 18 people from Rock County that have completed the Train the Trainer program and are ready to go in to local businesses and organizations and provide this free training. Contact Cori Marsh at 608-741-3615 for more information or schedule a free training.
For more information please contact Cori Marsh at 608-741-3615 or marsh@co.rock.wi.us or visit us at www.co.rock.wi.us/adrc.
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