TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- Thursday, Tallahassee and Leon County became the first in Florida to be designated as a "Dementia Caring Community".
The Department of Elder Affairs will work with city and county leaders who will make up the local Dementia Care and Cure Initiative Advisory Council. The goal of the council will be to develop a community work plan and recommend first steps for action in the local community.
"To be the first Dementia Caring Community in Florida highlights all the great work we've done in Leon County, and it also challenges us to do even more to help our seniors," said Leon County Commissioner Bryan Desloge. "From Choose Tallahassee, to our Chamber of Commerce, to the first responder chiefs, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Leon County is a senior-friendly community –today's announcement highlighted that."
At a press conference Thursday, Florida Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Sam Verghese highlighted the need for the initiative and the goals of the new partnership. “Florida has the second highest incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in the nation, and even more are affected by other forms of dementia. Across the state, we will be taking action at the community level to support those diagnosed with dementia, their families, and caregivers,” Verghese said.
There are more than 510,000 Floridians who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease–the most well-known and common type of dementia.
