Area agencies receive Alzheimer's care grants

Sept. 06--BEMIDJI -- Northwoods Caregivers in Bemidji is one of several agencies to receive grants to help with Alzheimer's care.

According to a press release from the Department of Human Services, a total of $750,000 in grants has been appropriated by the Legislature. The dollars, split between 12 organizations, are to help offer memory screenings and training, with a focus on being more culturally responsive to diverse communities and working with health care providers to improve services, the release said.

A total of $110,535 in grant funding was directed to Northwoods Caregivers of Bemidji for outreach to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa and older LGBT adults in order to provide culturally appropriate dementia services. The funding also will be used to partner with educational institutions to offer intergenerational dementia-related programming and to host a regional Native American dementia event.

Also receiving funding is Koochiching Aging Options of International Falls. The agency received $38,451 to educate targeted community organizations and businesses with one-on-one services to people with memory loss.

"Alzheimer's alone impacts 91,000 Minnesotans over age 65, and the number is growing," Minnesota Board on Aging Executive Director Kari Benson said in the release. "These funds support individuals, families and friends in both urban and rural areas with a wide range of activities that respond to different cultural norms and values."

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