The National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center will present a webinar on September 1st. The webinar will focus on the issue of Dementia Friendly Communities. Participants will learn about concepts related to Dementia Friendly Communities and examples of implementing these concepts into the community. Emily Farah-Miller and Annette Sandler will present at this webinar.
Presenter Descriptions:
Emily Farah-Miller is the Project Director and Communities Liaison for ACT on Alzheimer’s. Emily has worked in the field of aging for more than 15 years. One current responsibility is point person for 34 communities throughout Minnesota striving to become dementia friendly. In this role, Emily coordinates all activities required of communities using the 4-phase ACT on Alzheimer's® Dementia Capable Communities Toolkit and she is the liaison for communities and ACT technical assistance partners within the Area Agencies on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association. With her expert focus on family caregivers of older adults, Emily's work with ACT on Alzheimer's has been strengthened by a caregiving journey with her father, who had Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Emily's professional experience also includes coordinating statewide initiatives and implementing programs through collaboration with state and local partners. She holds a M.S. in Gerontology and a B.A. in Psychology.
Annette Sandler is the Director of Aging and Disabilities Services at Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis. Annette is responsible for the State and Federally funded NORC program, L’Chaim Senior Services, AlterCare Adult day program, HECM Reverse Mortgage Counselors, and The Jewish Community Inclusion Program for People with Disabilities. Annette has BA in Communications, a Master’s degree in Gerontology from the University of Minnesota, and a Certificate in Advocacy Leadership for Vital Aging from the University of Minnesota. Annette’s primary area of study has been “Adding Life to Life Expectancy”. Annette is also Co-Facilitator of the Park Nicollet Health Systems Successful Aging Initiative, serves on the ACT on Alzheimer’s leadership group for Dementia Capable Communities, and is the co-chair of the Twin Cities Jewish Community Alzheimer’s disease task force. Annette is also the community champion for two of Minnesota’s pilot Dementia Friendly Communities ACTion teams.