Spotlights | Dementia Friends Minnesota

The Dementia Friendly America team from left to right: Aleiah Mann, Mary Ek, and Darya Rahbar

Dementia Friends Interview: Aleiah Mann

Pictured above: The DFA team from left to right: Aleiah Mann, Mary Ek and Darya Rahbar.

To wrap up the celebration of the tenth anniversary of Dementia Friends Minnesota, we spoke to Aleiah Mann, Senior Program Associate, Dementia Friendly America, to hear what is happening with Dementia Friends and DFA across the country.

What should Minnesota Dementia Friends and Dementia Friendly Communities know about DFA?

Dementia Friends Interview: Teresa McCarthy and Teresa Schicker

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of Dementia Friends Minnesota, every month we will be featuring Friends who have taken the work to new heights. This month, we spoke to Teresa McCarthy MD, CMD, and Teresa M. Schicker, MPA, about their work with the Minnesota Northstar Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (MNGWEP).

Tell us about how GWEP works with the Dementia Friends program.

Dementia Friends Interview: Lori Paulson

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 Lori Paulson about her work with the City of Winona.

When did you start working with Dementia Friends?
It was 2016 when the ACT on Alzheimer's team came in and 2017 when Dementia Friends was implemented in Winona. My director at the time was an outside of the box thinker and our action team was large, 40+ people.

Dementia Friends Interview: Karen Bedeau

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 Karen Bedeau of Northwoods Caregivers about her work with the Bemidji and Tribal Nations communities.

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.

Dementia Friends Interview: Maby Almiron

Para celebrar el décimo aniversario de Amigos de la Demencia de Minnesota, cada mes estaremos presentando a un Amigo que ha llevado el trabajo a nuevas alturas. Este mes, hablamos con Maby Almirón, especialista en Alcance Comunitario en Trellis, quien facilita sesiones de Amigos de la Demencia, en español, alrededor del área metropolitana.

A graphic showing five cut-outs of people holding hands around a blue flower. The word "community" appears under the flower

Dementia Friends Interview: Sister Margaret Belanger

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 Sister Margaret Belanger, Sister of St. Joseph and resident at Carondelet Village who created Living Room Conversations with another resident to share the Dementia Friends message.

A photo of two people standing at the front of a room. Behind them is a projected screen with Dementia Friends information visible.

Dementia Friends Interview: Geri Svaleson and Kim Alinder

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of Dementia Friends Minnesota, every month we will be featuring Friends who have taken the work to new heights. This month, we spoke to Geri Svaleson and Kim Alinder, Dementia Champions in the Mankato area who after years of working in the aging field teamed up to become a dynamic duo for Dementia Friends.

Author Edie Weinstein holding copies of her book, "Grandpa and Lucy"

Dementia Friends Interview: Edie Weinstein

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 Edie Weinstein, youth leader and author of Grandpa and Lucy: A Story about Love and Dementia (2017). Edie is currently a third-year student at the University College Dublin, studying English and linguistics.

How did you get involved in Dementia Friends?

Dementia Friends Interview: Mary Lenard and Olivia Mastry

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of Dementia Friends Minnesota, every month in 2024 we will be featuring a Friend who has taken the work to new heights.