Dementia Friendly Ottawa first began in 2025 when Christine Simmons and Joelle Patterson- both long-time professionals in senior living and dementia care- recognized a growing need for stronger community support for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. Through years of hands-on experience working directly with residents, families, and care teams, they witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by those navigating dementia and the gaps in available resources. Motivated by their shared passion for advocacy and education, they partnered to bring the Dementia Friendly America initiative to Ottawa. Together, they began engaging community leaders and organizations to build a more informed, compassionate, and supportive environment for those affected by dementia.
Dementia Friendly Ottawa will focus on four initiatives – creating a caregiver’s support group; preparing a nine-week stress buster caregiver program; distributing educational resource packets to caregivers; and offering community education to raise awareness and create “dementia friends” in the business community. Organizations and businesses will be a friend by having their members and employees take part in a free hour-long training. Once trained, they will receive a certificate to display advising visitors that they are a dementia-friendly business.
As part of this vital program, caregivers can be given a tracking device that can be worn by an individual with dementia. The devices are water and impact proof and will operate on radio frequency rather than by GPS. Should someone go missing, the Ottawa Police Department will be contacted, and through radio frequency, the person’s location can be determined, within about a file-mile reach.
In addition to providing that critical tracking equipment, Dementia Friendly Ottawa intends to bring more awareness about people with dementia to the community at large and help them be better informed to assist those living with dementia and their caregivers.
Our sincere thanks to Christine and Joelle for bringing this vital program to our cherished individuals, families and friends in Ottawa!
To learn more about the Dementia Friendly America Network, visit What is DFA — Dementia Friendly America (dfamerica.org). You may also find this video helpful.
