Region IV Area Agency on Aging (RIV AAA) is presenting “Fortune Cookies,” a virtual event aimed at engaging people impacted by a dementia diagnosis, family members, caregivers, local businesses and the broader community in conversations around the subject of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Everyone is welcome to attend this event March 15, 2022 from 2pm to 4pm delivered via Zoom with a limited number of in-person tickets also available.
Yolanda Mendez, Region IV Area Agency on Aging Community Services Director says, “We are honored to bring The Remember Project to our community. The use of arts to increase awareness and reduce the fear, stigma, and isolation of memory loss is a priority for the AAA as we work to become a dementia friendly community. You will see more educational opportunities like these throughout 2022.”
The event is part of RIV AAA’s expanded dementia programming for 2022 and takes a unique approach to building awareness, sharing information, and inviting authentic community conversations. Audience members come together via Zoom, watch the play together, and then engage in a facilitated conversation followed by an opportunity to explore local resources with trained AAA Information and Access Specialists.
The play focuses on the character of Mona, an 80-year-old high-energy entrepreneur who always has a project on the front burner. She is the life of the party and her enthusiasm is both funny and charming, yet she fears the idea of memory loss and has seen too much of it among friends and neighbors. As the audience gets to know Mona during this 16-minute play, they find themselves with an opportunity to consider one of the biggest hurdles to creating a truly dementia-friendly community: the need to understand how knowledge and compassion are essential to keeping families out of crisis.
“Fortune Cookies” is part of the Remember Project (www.rememberproject.org). To date, over 100 virtual Remember Project events and conversations have taken place to raise awareness and address the stigma, isolation, and fear associated with dementia.
“Our ultimate goal,” explains Remember Project Founder and Fortune Cookies Director Danette McCarthy, “is to assist community members and leaders to consider new ways to think about memory loss and to become aware of local resources that support families who are dealing with a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease.”
To register visit www.CampusForCreativeAging.org or contact Amy Nichols by phone at 269-982-7748 or email amynichols@areaagencyonaging.org.
