Community Event: ‘Dementia Friends’ Information Session
Media / Press Release
Contact: Representative Jon Koznick 612-242-8317Council Member John Bermel 612-709-1080
Immediate Release
Rep. Jon Koznick and Councilman John Bermel aim to
increase dementia awareness in Lakeville Area
(Lakeville, MN) A yearlong incitive to tackle the stigma and lack of understanding around dementia is underway with leadership of Representative Jon Koznick and Lakeville Councilman John Bermel.
Koznick and Bermel, are hosting a kick off ‘Dementia Friends’ Information Session on Thursday, January 25th at the Lakeville Heritage Center at 2pm and a second session on Saturday, January 27th at The Fountains of Hosanna at 10am.
The two leaders are inviting people to join in learning about dementia and helping people who are living with it in our community.
Dementia Friends is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way we think, talk and act about the disease. The Dementia Friends session helps you learn about dementia and the small ways you can help.
Koznick and Bermel will help plan additional information session at least once a month. If your Church, business, organization, school, or neighborhood group would like to host a session, they encourage you to contact them. Future sessions can be found online at https://dementiafriendsmn.org/find-session
Approximately 99,000 Minnesotans age 65+ are living with Alzheimer's.
Having volunteered to be a Dementia Friends Champion, Representative Koznick is now helping delivering Dementia Friends Sessions to people across the Lakeville area, including Elko New Market and Credit River.
Koznick said: “After volunteering at the Highview Hills Senior Living Alzheimer’s walk and touring The Moments of Lakeville community and recently learning of my own father’s diagnosis of early on set dementia, I’ve come to understand the need to help others learn about Dementia and the importance of Adult Care policy.”
“I’ve been fortunate to officially tour and visit many of the memory care and senior communities in the district and there are several quality memory care options in the area. However, dementia can develop as early as your forties and people with dementia are with us throughout each day.”
Koznick continued “We hope that through this effort, more people in the district will better understand that there are people with dementia we interact with every day at Churches, restaurants, work and businesses, gas stations and schools and that we learn how to better communicate and live with our neighbors and loved ones with Dementia.”
Bermel added: “I’m honored that Rep. Koznick asked me to help lead this initiative for Lakeville. It’s easy to get involved. I attended a session and I’m now proud to be part of a growing network of people creating dementia friendly communities together. My own experience caring for my mother and now as Chaplain at The Fountains at Hosanna motivates me to support and help educate the community as more people experience Dementia related issues.”
Anyone interested in attending the Dementia Friends Session can show up at the Heritage Center on Jan 25th, or at The Fountains on January 27th. An RSVP to jkoznick@gmail.com is very helpful and for more information on hosting or attending a future session contact Rep Koznick or Councilman Bermel. More information about Dementia is available on line at https://dementiafriendsmn.org/
Date and Time
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CST
January 27, 10am
Location
The Fountains at Hosanna
Fees/Admission
Free
