A Partnership Between SOAR Fox Cities and Fox Valley Memory Project
The Aging & IDD Program is a partnership focused on bringing more resources and support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they age along with their care partners.
Our mission is to improve the quality and effectiveness of programs and services offered to people with IDD diagnoses as they age throughout the Fox Valley region of Wisconsin.
Did you know?
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have similar risk of developing some form of dementia as the general population; however, they are at risk of developing dementia much earlier than the general population of aging adults, around 20-25 years earlier. When diagnosed, they are living longer with the disease and their symptoms do not present the same as the general population.
What will this program offer?
Memory Cafés
Last Wednesday of each month 6-7:30 PM
Register by calling SOAR at 920-731-9831
Memory cafes are opportunities for individuals with dementia and their care partner to enjoy regular, social interaction with others living in similar circumstances in a safe, welcoming environment. They are designed for people with a wide range of cognitive needs and strive to be “stigma-free” spaces for guests to accept and support one another, both as the person with dementia and their care partner. Memory cafes are a place to talk with people who understand what you are going through, to focus on your strengths, to enjoy each other’s company, and to explore something new. It is important to note that individuals do not need to have a diagnosis to attend. Our Memory Cafés will meet the last Wednesday of each month at Abby Bank and while there is no charge for the event, we do ask that you register ahead of time. For questions, concerns, or to register, please contact Heidi at the SOAR office by phone at (920)731-9831 or via email at [email protected].
Screening Tools
The NTG-EDSD is an Early Detection and Screen for Dementia that was developed in response to requests by family caregivers and agencies for a tool useful to record observations of changes in function of the individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The NTG-EDSD is meant to be completed by family caregivers and/or staff at agencies or organizations that know the individual with IDD well. It is meant to first be completed when the individual is about 35-40 years old to get a baseline and then again, every year after that. For this reason, yearly training sessions will be held to assist care partners in completing the NTG-EDSD, both virtually and in person. The goal in doing this is to help treat the dementia symptoms as they arise and to meet the individual where they are at in the process, creating a more positive, dementia friendly environment as they age.