10:00-11:00 a.m

103-K. Create Your Own Dementia Positive Community

Towns and villages across the nation can transform society's current narratives about dementia by fostering acceptance and inclusion of residents with lived experience. This session will highlight how the town of Southington, CT, is achieving this goal through a partnership with Yale University and LiveWell, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting inclusion of individuals living with dementia. Presenters will describe how the partners pioneered the Dementia Positive model, which sparks meaningful dialogue among diverse stakeholders and implements innovative solutions focused on cognitive health, prevention, and early intervention. You'll leave feeling inspired and equipped with practical strategies for creating your own Dementia Positive Community with help from individuals with lived experiences, families, professionals, and community members.

• Joan Monin, Associate Professor, Yale University School of Public Health — New Haven, CT, USA
• Heidi Gil, Chief Strategy Officer, LiveWell — Plantsville, CT, US
• Ellen Sue Moses, Volunteer, LiveWell — Plantsville, CT, US