Focus Group Supports Dementia-Friendly Communities

DECATUR, Ga. – The DeKalb County Human Services Department, in partnership with the Dementia Spotlight Foundation, will host a dementia-friendly focus group on April 24, at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Lithonia, from 10 a.m. to noon.

DeKalb County citizens living with dementia and their caregivers are cordially invited to participate. 

The purpose of the focus group is to gain firsthand knowledge about the community’s need for resources for people living with dementia. This event will conclude a series of dementia focus groups that have been held by the Human Services Department over the last two months in Decatur, North DeKalb and South DeKalb with a combined participation of 30 people.

Caregivers are people who provide direct support to children, seniors or anyone who is chronically ill and in need of assistance with activities of daily living which include bathing, grooming and dressing. They can also provide help with shopping, housekeeping and other errands.

There are approximately 140,000 people with Alzheimer’s living in Georgia and over 8,250 people with some form of dementia living in DeKalb County. It is estimated that caregivers who are not paid to help their loved ones with dementia contribute approximately $7 billion annually for their service.

The causes of dementia can vary, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common cause in older adults. Other dementias include Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal disorders, and vascular dementia.

There is no cost to participate in this focus group, however registration is required. To register, contact Debra Furtado, human services administrator, at (770) 322-2969 or dlfurtado@dekalbcountyga.gov.

###