Dementia Friends Interview: Joy Vliem
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of Dementia Friends Minnesota, every month we will be featuring a friend who has taken the work to new heights. This month, we spoke to Joy Vliem, Dementia Friends Coordinator, who supports the Dementia Friends work behind the scenes here at Trellis.
What is your role with Dementia Friends? How do you support the initiative?
I serve as the state contact for Dementia Friends MN. In this part-time role, I get to provide administrative support to the initiative’s partners, volunteers, and the public. I help with navigating, updates, and design plans for the Dementia Friends MN website. I activate new Champion online accounts ensure that volunteers have access to the virtual tools they need for their work. I answer questions from the public so they can connect with Dementia Friends information sessions and trainings. I also coordinate bi-monthly collaboration meetings for Master Trainer volunteers to promote their leadership.
How long have you been involved with Dementia Friends?
I began my role with Dementia Friends in 2018 and have enjoyed furthering the initiative’s mission over the last 5+ years.
Are there any stats or fun facts about Dementia Friends you can share?
Our volunteer team consists of one Lead Trainer, 20 Master Trainers, and 156 Champions. Since the program began in MN 10 years ago, over 27,000 Dementia Friends have been made. This means more than 27,000 individuals have received information, support, and hope that they can carry into their communities.
What do you like about the program?
I appreciate how Dementia Friends is volunteer driven. Individuals across the state are choosing to become Dementia Friends and then Champions of this movement. Thanks to our team of volunteers, many more Minnesotans, including our youth, are coming to better understand dementia and its impacts. They are discovering new ways to engage people affected by dementia and to make our communities better places for people with dementia to live.
What do you wish more people knew about the program? (This can include Friends and Champions!)
I wish a book could be written of all the stories of people impacted by a Dementia Friends information session! After a session, volunteers are often approached by people in attendance who share what a difference this information makes for them. I love to hear our volunteers relay the power of these sessions for the people who participate. The struggles of dementia are real and people are finding insight and encouragement in the Dementia Friends community.
We need more Champion volunteers! There are so many people who need to hear the five key messages of Dementia Friends and how they can turn their understanding into action. Will you consider joining us? Go to: https://2024.dementiafriendsmn.org/ and find out how easy it is to become a volunteer today. If you’re already a volunteer, please invite a friend or neighbor to join you in making a difference for your community!
