Dementia Friendly Nevada Community Group

Age- and Dementia-Friendly Winnemucca

Monthly Community Group Meetings:

First Tuesday of each month, 8:00 AM Pacific
Winnemucca City Hall or via Zoom
Meeting ID: 353 064 2536 Passcode: Gini

Community Group Goals

Goal 1: Increase education and public awareness of dementia and support for family care partners through ADF-Winnemucca.
Goal 2: Offer respite to family caregivers through Respite Retreat at the Senior Center as well as through financial support.
Goal 3: Enhance our efforts to age smart, age strong, and age well!
Goal 4: Advance knowledge and understanding of Alzheimer’s and other dementias through a variety of events, including The Darkest Day, December 21st, by lighting luminarias throughout our community in honor and remembrance.

Current Activities:

Music and Memory at Harmony Manor and Quail Corner
Weekly respite opportunities for family care partners held each Thursday from 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM at Pleasant Senior Center. Includes lunch and a variety of activities!
ADF Winnemucca is working with AARP on a proposed pickleball court near the Fitness Park of Whitmore Recreation Complex to bring the sport of pickleball to all in Winnemucca!
January 12 proved to be another exciting Tie-One-On event for Lowry High School basketball fans as well as coaches, teams, cheerleaders, and visitors from the Fallon Greenwave. Everyone in sight wore a purple ribbon to indicate our common cause of supporting people living with dementia and caregivers! Between the girls and boys varsity basketball games, 13 locals plus Fallon coaches headed to mid-court to receive a rapidly tied bow tie from Lowry Cheer.
$669 was raised for Respite and Education through Age- and Dementia-Friendly Winnemucca, as well as a matching amount to support the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern Nevada.

Photos from the June 2024 ADFW Golf Scramble!

Photos from Tie One On 2024!

Photos from ADFW’s Respite Program at the Pleasant Senior Center. Participants enjoyed “Stay Sharp” bags from Jessica Anderson and the Humboldt County Library!

Upcoming Community Group Events

Respite program for people living with dementia. Care partners are welcome, too!
- Every Thursday from 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM at Pleasant Senior Center
Dementia Self-Management Book Club
- An eight-week discussion-based group utilizing the Dementia Self-Management Guidebook, where participants develop personalized strategies for living well with dementia.
- Thursdays from 9:00 – 10:30 AM at the Pleasant Senior Center, starting March 14 and going through May 2
- More information about the Book Club here.

Community Group Member Spotlight – Natalie Betschart

Can you please share a little bit about why you became a member of Age- and Dementia-Friendly Winnemucca?
My grandmother had Parkinson’s so I felt that it was important to become more knowledgeable about her diagnosis. When I first joined the group I was working at a nursing home so it was important to me to know more about the diseases that my residents were living with.

What is one thing you wish others knew about becoming a member of Age- and Dementia-Friendly Winnemucca
I wish people knew how welcoming the Winnemucca group is and how compassionate they are to everyone that joins.

What is one of your hopes for how your community can become more respectful, educated, supportive and inclusive of people living with dementia?
I am a small business owner so this comes from a place deep within my heart: I wish customer service people would be more patient with customers that have dementia. Maybe this requires education on how to identify someone with dementia, but really I think we just need to slow down and take a little extra time with these customers. It isn’t a lack of respect for people living with dementia, but it is selfish of us to not share a little more time with people who truly need it.

What are a few of your favorite things to do in your free time?
I enjoy spending time with my family, bowling and playing cribbage when I have some free time.