Jim Mangi of Dementia Friendly Services talked about the pathway to becoming a dementia friendly community.
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The Rotary Club of Dexter welcomed Jim Mangi of Dementia Friendly Services to their evening meeting on February 26, 2026. Jim offered some background about the different forms of dementia, and introduced the KISSS principle as a technique for communicating with people with dementia - Keep It Short, Simple, and Slow. Jim suggested the video Understand Alzheimer's Disease in 3 Minutes as a resource to learn more about this common cause of dementia.
Club members then learned about Dementia Friendly Services, a small Saline-based nonprofit aimed at making living in the community less difficult and more dignified for persons with dementia. Their mission is to raise awareness, provide education to the community, and to create fun, judgement-free events and spaces for those affected by dementia like their special movie program at the Emagine Theater in Saline. Jim talked about a process for developing a Dementia Friendly Dexter by working with local businesses, and how his organization could help with education. The ultimate goal is for people with dementia to be a part of, not apart from, the community.