ALPENA ­– Dementia resources are available at Alpena Senior Citizens Center.

June is National Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Senior center representatives want to invite anyone dealing with dementia or mild cognitive impairment to join Dementia Minds, which will be an ongoing group.

“So, Dementia Minds is actually a program that the National Council of Dementia Minds has developed,” said Senior Center Director Annie Hepburn. “We jumped on board, and we partnered with Besser Senior Living to get a group of individuals that are living with dementia, that will be part of the Dementia Minds group.”

For anyone dealing with the starting signs of dementia, this group can offer a variety of benefits, including:

¯ Sharing the experience of living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment;

¯ Sharing strategies to live well;

¯ Developing friendships;

¯ Learning new things;

¯ Having fun;

¯ Creating resources and presentations to help others;

¯ Conducting presentations for people living with dementia, licensed health care professionals, researchers, families, care partners, policymakers, and the community.

A group consists of about eight people. Participants are encouraged to reach out to join this support opportunity.

“They’re the ones that are in charge of it,” said Senior Center Program Manager BJ Sander. “I look at it as being a support group for the dementia community, because they are supporting each other. To me, it’s just a phenomenal idea.”

She and Hepburn help facilitate the group, but it belongs to the participants.

“We give them talking points,” Sander said.

“They just talk and solve their own problems,” Hepburn added. “They communicate and solve that themselves. We’re not there to solve their issues.”

She said it’s a very cool program that gives power and ownership to the participants.

“Yes, you may have a diagnosis of dementia, but you can live a normal life,” Hepburn said.

To learn more about joining a Dementia Minds group, please contact Hepburn or Sander at the senior center by calling 989-356-3585 by June 30.