Reading Police Department Recognized As Dementia Friendly

READING, MA — The Reading Police Department has received the Dementia Friendly Reading designation, Deputy Chief David Clark announced Friday. Dementia Friendly Reading, a subgroup of Dementia Friendly Massachusetts, awarded the department the designation this month.

Dementia Friendly Reading is a community group that trains and informs local businesses, organizations and residents about the needs of those suffering from dementia. The goal is to make Reading a place that empowers those with dementia and their caregivers to feel valued and engaged in the community.

"The Reading Police Department has prioritized dementia training to ensure our officers and civilian employees are well prepared to assist those with dementia in the community," Clark said in a statement. "Dementia Friendly training has been incredibly valuable to our officers, and we're honored to be a part of the movement to make our town a more Dementia Friendly community."

In order to receive this designation, every officer received training to support residents struggling with symptoms of dementia and memory impairment. Officers are trained at the police academy, as well as during their annual training updates.

Civilian employees of the department have also attended Dementia Friendly Reading workshops and the department is in the process of training its remaining civilian employees. New hires will also receive Dementia Friendly training.

"Dementia Friendly Reading is sparking a great initiative in our town to recognize the signs of dementia and to learn communication strategies to better interact with those residents struggling with dementia," Community Service Officer Kristen O'Shaughnessy said in a statement. "As a police department, it's crucial that our officers are trained to effectively interact with and serve every member of our community, including families and residents touched by dementia."

O'Shaughnessy has been a part of the Dementia Friendly Reading leadership team since 2017 and works closely with team members to address the needs of both caregivers and those directly impacted by dementia.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 50 million people worldwide live with some form of dementia, a range of diseases and conditions with symptoms including a decline in memory and other thinking skills beyond the normal effects of aging.

For a business or town department in Reading to earn the Dementia Friendly Designation, senior management must be trained to recognize the signs of dementia and commit to training existing staff and future employees. Once trained, policies and practices must be implemented to help support those with dementia and their caregivers.