Caregiver Program Leads City’s Dementia Friendly Designation
By Rosanne Fohn
The School of Nursing’s Caring for the Caregiver program championed an initiative to earn San Antonio the designation of a Dementia Friendly City.
Jacqueline M. McGrath, Ph.D., RN, FNAP, FAAN, vice dean for faculty excellence, announced the Dementia Friendly City designation in June 2019 during the school’s Ninth Annual Geriatric Conference. The conference brought together health care providers, researchers, community organizations, governmental agencies and families to discuss Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, as well as resources needed by caregivers in the community.
“We are proud to have a hand in bringing the Dementia Friendly designation to San Antonio, along with many strong partners such as University Health System, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Department, the City of San Antonio, the Alzheimer’s Association and many others. As nurse leaders, our mission is to improve health and health care through education, research, practice and community engagement,” Dr. McGrath said.
The Dementia Friendly City designation recognizes that San Antonio has a grassroots initiative in place, led by an advisory council of committed stakeholders. San Antonio is the third city in Texas with this designation, along with Fort Worth and Tyler.
Carole White, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, director of the Caring for the Caregiver program, led the Dementia Friendly initiative.
“We also are seeking community partners, such as churches or other organizations, to help us reach out to individuals with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers to provide education and training,” which is available through Caring for the Caregiver, she said.
The Caring for the Caregiver program is affiliated with the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio, which offers patient care, research, events and resources.
For more information about the Caring for the Caregiver program, call (210) 450-8715 or visit https://utcaregivers.org/resources/dementia-friendly-san-antonio/.
