News/Stories

WATERTOWN, WIS.  August 17, 2015 — Jan Zimmerman, director of Dementia Outreach and Education at The Lutheran Home Association (TLHA), met with Wisconsin state Rep. John Jagler, R-Watertown, last week to discuss strategies and areas of improvement for dementia care and awareness.

Jagler was recently named to the newly created bi-partisan task force to study Alzheimer’s and dementia in the state. Speaker Robin Vos charged the task force with canvassing communities and organizations around Wisconsin to gather best practices, discover unmet needs and learn about barriers to meeting those needs.  

“I look forward to using what we have learned and implemented here in Watertown to help make Wisconsin a better, more inclusive and integrative place for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s,” Jagler said.

In 2013, Watertown was recognized as one of, if not the first, community in the country to work toward creating a “dementia friendly” community.

“That’s why I wanted to talk with Jan, because some of the work she’s done — the work we’ve been doing in Watertown — is ahead of the game compared to other communities,” Jagler said.

While the city has taken bold steps to make it more welcoming to those with dementia, including launching the Watertown Dementia Awareness Coalition with Zimmerman’s help, significant barriers remain for those with memory loss.

“Education programs are in place for businesses and state agencies, but we need better education in hospitals, clinics and long-term care to support those living with dementia, their care partners and health care staff,” Zimmerman said, acknowledging limited resources, both in terms of staff and funds, hinder the effort.

Additional desired outcomes Zimmerman highlighted are:

• Availability of respite care
• Crisis beds to help prevent some of the trauma of emergency room visits and hospitalization
• Decrease in use of psychotropic medications to sedate patients, replaced by interventions to prevent the behaviors exhibited  to express fear, anxiety and frustration
• Increase in funds available to communities and coalitions to help create dementia friendly communities
• Spread dementia awareness and understanding to provide resources for those living with dementia, keeping them independent longer and decreasing end-costs related to disease
• Collaboration between counties in dementia outreach efforts

After talking with Zimmerman, Jagler stopped to visit with residents who live at Heritage Homes, a TLHA residence offering independent living, assisted living and memory care. The legislator answered questions and explained the goals of the new task force.

“I think the creation of this task force is timely; as our population ages we need to find solutions for affordable, sustainable and, above all, compassionate care for those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s,” Jagler said. “I have an 18 year old daughter with Down syndrome; I see the parallel of treating people with respect and a little bit of patience. I think some of the things Jan teaches business owners can go hand-in-hand with how to treat people with disabilities as well.”

State hearings about dementia are slated for this fall, and Jagler has asked Zimmerman to testify.

About The Lutheran Home Association
The Lutheran Home Association is a not-for-profit ministry dedicated to providing for the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of people in our care. We offer a wide variety of health care, housing, and spiritual outreach services with campuses in several states and congregational programs serving seniors and individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities nationwide.  Services and programs include senior living, skilled nursing care, memory care, disability services, rehabilitative therapies, chaplaincy, Bible classes, worship services and property management services.  Learn more at www.tlha.org, follow @TLHAword on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook.