If it’s mentionable, it’s manageable

This project aims to raise awareness of dementia services, increase help-seeking behaviors, and increase sharing of available dementia resources by increasing AD knowledge to overcome dementia stigma. Addressing stigma will take a multi-pronged and multi-level approach through a partnership between researchers, a social service organization (ACCESS), the City of Dearborn (Department of Public Health), the National Institute of Aging funded Alzheimers disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (AD-RCMAR) Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimers Disease (MCCFAD), the National Council of Dementia Minds group (Michigan), State of Health Podcast-Michigan, and the Community Health Worker Academy at Wayne State University. These existing and new partnerships will aim to increase education about ADRD and battle shame through a podcast (English and Arabic), development of contining education modules, Alzheimer awareness events, an ambassador program and a public messaging campaign. All activities are meant to facilitate resource seeking and sharing. The key outcome of this project is to facilitate access to resources meant to support people living with dementia and their families by reducing dementia stigma. We know this project will be impactful because our previous and newly formed partnerships will work collaboratively with community members and stakeholders to create messages about dementia that meet people where they are to educate and overcome shame. By doing so, both lay people and health professionals will be better able to talk about dementia; talking about dementia is a necessary step to overcome stigma and leads to the ability to seek/provide resources.