Better Together: Age-Friendly and Dementia Friendly Communities

More communities around the world are committing to becoming age-friendly and dementia friendly. As they do so, there's an increasing interest in how the two types of initiatives work together, and complement rather than compete.

The AARP International Affairs report "Better Together: A Comparison of Age-Friendly and Dementia Friendly Communities" by Natalie Turner and Lydia Morken compares the approaches and offers guidance and insight into how to connect the two. (Also see the chart below.)

Dementia Friendly Resources

Launched in 2015 at the White House Conference on Aging, Dementia Friendly America hosts online tools and resources about how to create communities that are more inclusive and supportive of people living with dementia as well as their caregivers.

• Dementia Friendly America Tools & Resources

Other Organizations and Support

Additional nonprofits that are engaged in dementia friendly work include:

• American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
• National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
• Alzheimer's Association 

By reaching out to the local branches of these groups, along with other organizations engaged in supporting people with dementia, alliances can be created to implement the work and engage people with dementia in age-friendly community planning.

Organizing Frameworks

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