York County first responders attended a pilot program on April 5 that aimed to teach them how to best serve patients living with dementia.
The program, the first of its kind in the county, included 10 participants from multiple York County agencies.
The program aims to inform first responders about the unique challenges that people with dementia face and teach strategies to effectively communicate with those patients. “Dementia care education is needed. Dementia care awareness is so needed,” said Tina Hess of the Dementia Friendly Initiative of York/Adams County. Hess helped organize the training.
People living with dementia can have problems with memory and thinking skills, sometimes leading to confusion and anxiety.