Silverado to host dementia classes at Blaine Library

Blaine Library will host Silverado Bellingham Memory Care Community’s dementia education series for Blaine residents who want to learn more about caring for a loved one with impaired memory. The three-part series will be offered Thursday evenings at Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street, starting January 19 and Thursday afternoons starting February 16.

“We’re trying to create awareness about the diseases and how people can compassionately communicate and understand the behaviors that come with the disease,” said Silverado community ambassador Rosalee Ronquillo. 

The first class, “Dementia 101,” will cover types of dementia and focus on how Alzheimer’s disease impacts an individual’s functions and mental abilities. The second class, “Understanding Behaviors,” will go over common behaviors associated with dementia. The final class, “Virtual Dementia Tour,” will show what someone with dementia experiences every day.

Ronquillo said the classes will allow attendees to learn more about dementia than they would from a brief doctor’s visit. For additional Whatcom County resources, Ronquillo suggests Northwest Regional Council and Project Lifesaver, a tracking device program for people with dementia that Dementia Support Northwest offers with help from the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office.

The evening classes will be offered 5:30 p.m. January 19, January 26 and February 2. The afternoon classes will be offered 1 p.m. February 16, February 23 and March 2.

For more information, call Silverado at 360/746-6675 or email Rosalee Ronquillo at rronquillo@silverado.com.

This article has been updated to include Dementia Support Northwest’s role in Project Lifesaver.