October 20, 2023
Dementia Friendly Manhattan kick-off event
To raise awareness about Dementia Friendly Manhattan and the new training program, the K-State community is invited to attend a fall kick-off from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, at Rockin K's, hosted by the Flint Hills Wellness Coalition.
The event features guest speaker Susan McFadden, author of "Dementia-Friendly Communities: Why We Need Them and How We Can Create Them." Please register online by noon on Oct. 23.
Kathleen Schuler, a Master of Public Health student at K-State, is completing her applied practical experience with the Flint Hills Wellness Coalition. In 2021, Anna Biggins, former Master of Public Health student, assisted the coalition with launching its Dementia Friendly Manhattan initiative. Schuler worked with coalition chair Debbie Nuss to develop a dementia-friendly training presentation for local business employees. Participants will learn about dementia, dementia-friendly communities and strategies for assisting people with dementia in their workplace. Businesses that complete the program will receive a certificate of completion and a window cling that can be displayed in their establishment.
As part of the Dementia Friendly America network, Manhattan was the first community in Kansas to join the dementia-friendly movement. A dementia-friendly community is a community in which members are educated, respectful and inclusive of people living with dementia. Key aspects include grocery stores, banks, post offices, public transportation and emergency services that are accessible to people with dementia.
All Master of Public Health students are required to complete a public health project with a community partner. For more details about graduate education in public health at K-State, visit the program website.