Dementia Friendly Fond du Lac County

01/08/2026

💜Happy 2026 💜

Here is the monthly newsletter from your Fond du Lac County Dementia Care Specialist, Alyssa Sommerfeldt

If you would like to receive the newsletter via email or mail, please email Alyssa at alyssa.sommerfeldt@fdlco.wi.gov

01/08/2026

Join me for Wisconsin Advocacy Day on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Register here: https://alz-wi.quorum.us/event/25900/

Hear from our bipartisan legislative champions, get the latest updates on bills that support people living with dementia and their family caregivers, and meet with your state legislators.

Prior to Advocacy Day, the Alzheimer`s Association is hosting a two-part virtual training series. Please join by registering:

Session 1: Advocacy Best Practices:
https://alz-wi.quorum.us/event/29626/
Tuesday, January 13, 12 - 12:30 p.m.

Session 2: How to Effectively Communicate With Lawmakers:
https://alz-wi.quorum.us/event/29627/
Tuesday, January 27, 12 - 12:30 p.m.

12/03/2025

🩵20 Thoughtful Gifts for People with Parkinson’s🩵

Sometimes, a small gift can help make life a little easier for someone with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Explore the Parkinson’s-friendly gift guide for comfort items and helpful presents that show your thinking about your loved on this holiday season.

Browse twenty gift ideas for your loved one with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

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

💜💜💜

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