Dementia-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh is a collaboration built to create awareness and engagement throughout the community about dementia and how we can support those living with dementia. We provide education, create opportunities for engagement and advocate for the needs of those living with dementias and their care partners.
Our efforts began as a result of our region’s launch of Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh’s Action Plan in October 2017. Two of the plan’s Action Items directly related to Dementia-Friendly Communities; Creating Dementia Friendly Conversations and Providing Dementia Friendly Trainings.
As part of our initial efforts, we surveyed professionals in the field of dementia care, care partners, those living with dementia and other community members to determine our community’s strength and areas for potential growth. As part of our efforts, we joined the Dementia Friendly America Network. This is a national network of communities seeking to ensure that communities across the United States are equipped to support those living with dementia and their care partners.
Dementia-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh remains an initiative of SWPPA and Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh, and as one of the eight Dementia Friendly communities in Pennsylvania, they are also supported by the newly created state-led Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania.
In partnership with Presbyterian SeniorCare Network and Dementia360, Dementia-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh is now offering a free, one-hour training for local businesses, organizations, and workplaces who are interested in learning how to create a more dementia-friendly environment and experience in their workplace for those living with dementia and their care partners in our community. In this training, you will learn what dementia is and facts about Alzheimer’s disease, recognize the signs of dementia, learn tips for communicating & interacting with a person living with dementia, learn tips for creating a dementia-friendly physical space, and learn about local and national resources. Your business, organization, or workplace will then be certified as Dementia-Friendly and will receive a window-cling to display for the community. Please see our 
This toolkit is a great way to educate our Greater Pittsburgh community on what dementia is; ways to be inclusive, welcoming, and supportive to people living with dementia and their care partners; and how to volunteer and advocate. It provides local and national resources, as well. Please click on the link below to download the Community Toolkit.
