We Are Creating Dementia Friendly Central Virginia
More than 5000 people are currently living with dementia or cognitive impairment in Central Virginia. This number is expected to rise 30% by 2025.
Around 90% live at home and many remain active and engaged in our community.
Dementia Friendly Central Virginia is a movement to raise understanding and awareness of dementia so that everyone is supported to fully participate in our community.
Events:
Senior Safety Day The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Blvd, Charlottesville, VA 22901
May 9, 2026 9am-1pm
Become Dementia Friendly
Dementia Friends Information Sessions are free, one-hour interactive presentations that help you learn some basic information about dementia including the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, communication tips and strategies, and 5 key messages about dementia. You will also have the opportunity to choose a dementia-friendly action of your own as part of becoming a Dementia Friend. Please contact us at DFCentralVirginia@gmail.com to arrange a session for your group, or visit DementiaFriendsVirginia.org to find a virtual session.
DFCV offers businesses and organizations free training to support dementia friendly approaches and learn about strategies that will help people living with dementia.
Our trained volunteers can provide a training for your staff or other group to help your organization become dementia aware.
In the session, your group will learn:
- basic facts about Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders that cause dementia
- 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease
- tips for communicating and interacting with a person living with dementia
- tips for creating a dementia-friendly physical space.
Organizations and businesses must sign a 
Community Partner Agreement with DFCV that commits them to training their staff about dementia, to incorporating information about dementia into regular training or on-boarding, and to support family caregivers on their staff. In return, DFCV will facilitate training for their staff, provide a We Are Dementia Friendly window cling to publicly identify the organization as dementia friendly, and identify the organization as dementia friendly on the DFCV website and in other promotional materials.
Please contact DFCV on DFCentralVirginia@gmail.com to learn more about the Community Partner Agreements or to book a training or information session.
Dementia Friends Champions help the community become more dementia aware by leading engaging and interactive Dementia Friends session DFCV offers FREE Dementia Friends Training. For more information contact us at: DFCentralVirginia@gmail.com
Learn more about dementia and connect to resources and services including free training modules for caregivers, resources including the Virginia Dementia Roadmap, and learn about participating in research to improve knowledge, treatments and care.
Who We Are
Dementia Friendly Central Virginia (DFCV) is a volunteer group whose members have experienced the impact of dementia either personally or professionally and now wish to support people living with dementia and their care partners.
DFCV is part of an international initiative with standardized workshops led nationally by Dementia Friendly America, and liaises with local and statewide providers working in dementia to complement their current services.
DFCV is fiscally sponsored by Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission Corporation.
Dementia Friendly Central Virginia aims to:
Promote broad awareness and recognition of the signs of dementia, and how to communicate with people living with dementia regardless of their circumstances.
Allow people living with dementia the ability to continue their daily activities, live safely and be as independent as possible helps tackle the stigma and social isolation they often experience.
Empower businesses and organizations to demonstrate awareness, respect and responsiveness to dementia to support people living with dementia to remain engaged within their communities.
Support local initiatives throughout Central Virginia in helping their communities become dementia-friendly, places where people living with dementia and their care partners are empowered, supported and included in society, and their full potential recognized.
Supporters
Dementia Friendly Central Virginia SINCERELY THANKS OUR generous SUPPORTERS
DONORS
PYMWYMI Fund at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation
Karen and Brandt Smith
Cameron Mowat & George Worthington
FISCAL SPoNSOR
