Dementia Friendly Fond du Lac County

11/26/2025

Older farmers are more likely to develop dementia, which can increase their risk of injuries - especially on farms and ranches. Even those with memory problems who just live on a farm, not work on it, can be at risk. While there are general resources for farm and home safety, there aren’t any programs that focus on the specific challenges of dementia in farming communities. Caring for someone with dementia in these areas can also be especially tough on families.


To fill this gap, researchers from the University of Iowa and University of Illinois Chicago teamed up with local experts to create Farm Families Coping with Dementia (FFCD). FFCD is a free, 4-week online educational series created to support family members of individuals living or working on or near farms who may be showing signs of memory loss or confusion. The program includes four weekly 1-hour Zoom sessions delivered by Illinois Extension educators:

-Dementia Basics
-Farm Safety and Dementia
-Improving safety with Dementia
-Caregiving and communication

You can find more information at the website:

Farm Families Coping with Dementia (FFCD) A Caregiver Support Research Project Concerned about someone in a farming community showing signs of dementia?  FFCD is an online educational series created to support caregivers of individuals livingor working on or near farms who are showingsigns of memor...

11/14/2025

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New Program Alert! Join us for the inaugural "New Memory Cafe", a social program for anyone living with memory loss and their care partner. This new program will meet the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 1:00-2:30 at The Center. Please help spread the word! This month's theme is "Fall Fun & Games". Feel free to drop in, or if you have any questions, give us a call at (920) 322-3630.

11/05/2025

Have you ever heard the term ‘sandwich carer’?

This means someone who's caring for a parent, or other older relative, while also raising children – and often working a job, too.

An estimated 2.4 million people in the UK care for both older and younger generations, so if this describes you, then you’re not alone. And this ‘triple burden’ of care can have a huge impact on physical, financial and emotional wellbeing.

We asked members of our Dementia Support Forum what advice they would offer to others finding themselves ‘sandwiched’ between caring responsibilities.

Here’s what they said:

‘Lay out your boundaries. Realistically, what can you do without compromising your wellbeing? It was only when I broke down that I realised I couldn’t do it anymore.'

‘Don’t overpromise. I always said to my mum I would keep her independent and at home as long as possible, but I never promised that we wouldn’t consider a care home.’

‘Ask for help (and then take it!) I have a good friend who my son is happy to go with (he’s very attached to me!) so he hasn’t had to sit through all the hospital appointments.’

‘Look after you. You can’t love your “carees” any more if the stress of caring damages your health and wellbeing. Be firm and do the right thing – look after yourself.’

And if you ever need any support or advice, call our Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456.

11/03/2025

In continuation of , let’s give credit where it’s due. 💙

💬 Tell me why you’re celebrating caregiving in the comments.

11/01/2025

November is National Caregivers Month!

No matter what your care partner journey looks like, from everyday caregivers to long-distance loved ones and individuals who care for themselves, we’re here to support you. Explore free resources from the Parkinson’s Foundation at: Parkinson.org/CaregiversMonth

10/29/2025

Its spooky season 👻

Spooky sights, scary sounds, and costumed strangers are staples of Halloween, but these can create unique challenges for individuals living with dementia. With October 31 approaching, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is offering tips to family caregivers to help loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses celebrate Halloween in a safe, dementia-friendly manner.

Read more here⤵️

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Providing Tips to Keep Individuals with Dementia Safe and Comfortable During Halloween (October 23, 2025)- Spooky sights, scary sounds, and costumed strangers are staples of Halloween, […]

10/23/2025

Reminder! The clocks go back this weekend ⏰

Changing the clocks can be confusing for all of us – but for someone living with dementia it can be particularly disorientating and even distressing.

Thankfully there are a few easy things we can do to help minimise any disruption.

Consider having dinner and going to bed an hour earlier on Saturday, so that the person you’re caring for still gets enough sleep and can wake up at their usual time on Sunday.

Keep to a regular routine during the day and at bedtime. Doing regular activities at the same time each day – for example, going for a walk after breakfast – can help a person with dementia make sense of the time.

Gentle exercise outdoors can help the person feel sleepier during the evening. If this isn’t an option, keeping them active during the day can have a similar effect.

Use blackout curtains to reduce sunlight in the evening to help with body clock regulation.

Invest in an auto-setting clock for them. Reading a clock face can be tricky for some people with dementia, so often digital clocks are easier. You can also get clocks that show the day of the week and date as well as the time, and for some people a day/night clock can help them distinguish what time of day it is.

10/23/2025

10/23/2025

09/30/2025

Looking for something to do tomorrow morning in Fond du Lac?

Come checkout the FREE showing of Wine, Women, & Dementia at the Odyssey Theatre!

Please register by calling 920.929.3419 or email Alyssa Sommerfeldt at alyssa.sommerfeldt@fdlco.wi.gov

Send a message to learn more

07/31/2025

Great partnerships in our community mean we can support our memory cafes in Fond du Lac County⤵️

SSM Health supports Ripon Public Library Memory Café
Read the full story here: https://www.envisiongreaterfdl.com/ssm-health-supports-ripon-public-library-memory-cafe/

Laura Nakielski (left), SSM Health senior community health specialist; Nicole Gill (right), vice president, clinical administrator; and DeAnn Thurmer (second from right, SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital/SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital, present a $1,000 gift to support the Ripon Public Library Memory Café to Susie Menk (second from left), Ripon Public Library adult/teen services librarian, and Alyssa Sommerfeldt (center), Fond du Lac County ADRC dementia care specialist.

07/22/2025

Save the Date for this great educational opportunity!

📅 Save the Date!
🧠💜 A Day with Lewy
Lewy Body Dementia and the Caregiving Journey

Join others for this powerful and informative conference dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of Lewy Body Dementia. 💬✨The conference will explore its symptoms, its impact on caregivers, and the latest research in the field. 🧪👥

📍 Thursday, October 9, 2025
🕗 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
🏛️ UW-Oshkosh – Culver Family Welcome Center
📍 625 Pearl Avenue, Oshkosh, WI 54901

💡 Whether you're a caregiver, professional, or simply want to learn more, this event is for YOU!

👉 Stay tuned for registration info and speaker announcements!
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