Organization Aims To Change Perspectives

After Crystal Yunginger, who has a background in gerontology, moved to New Holland, she asked her mother-in-law, Joan Yunginger, director of social services with CrossNet Ministries, if there were memory cafes in the area. Joan answered, "That's on our agenda."

In March of 2019, Crystal became a volunteer with ELANCO Dementia Friendly Community (DF), an outreach of Garden Spot Village (GSV). In June of 2019, the organization launched memory cafes to provide settings for individuals with dementia and their caregivers to enjoy social engagement and conversation about relevant topics in a stigma-free environment.

By September of 2020, Crystal was working as coordinator for the organization, which moved to join Dementia Friendly America (DFA) in November of that year, becoming Dementia Friendly Lancaster County (DFLC). At the same time, Crystal became a champion for Dementia Friends PA, which gave her the opportunity to host Dementia Friends sessions. In January, Crystal held her first Dementia Friends information session in a virtual format. The session covered key messages about dementia and how it affects individuals, among other topics. It ended with participants developing a plan involving ways to make the community more dementia friendly.

To introduce the organization to community members, a pamphlet about Dementia Friendly Lancaster County and a volunteer guidelines booklet have been created. The booklet outlines the ways people can serve, including an advisory board, which acts as the organization's eyes and ears in the community, and a working group, which furthers DFA initiatives and plans events. Crystal noted that people with dementia and caregivers will be essential to the group, but that representatives from businesses and organizations will be important as well. "We want to discuss ways businesses can be more dementia friendly to customers, (such as) creating an atmosphere that is conducive to a customer with dementia or supporting an employee who is a caregiver," she said.

Melody Karick, who serves as director of memory care with GSV, noted that a goal of the organization is to eliminate stereotypes. "One of our hopes is to break the stigma of dementia, by making people aware that it's OK to have this disease," she said. "We don't need to hide it or be ashamed of it, and we are the people that can make a difference." She added that when she trains team members at GSV's Meadow View Memory Support campus, she focuses on showing them different approaches to a situation.

"There is a way to enhance quality of life for someone who is going through this and their care partners," said Crystal, who is planning a Wednesday, April 28, breakfast for a limited number of people. The breakfast will bring key businesses in the Lancaster County area that are already doing dementia work on board with the organization. "(The breakfast is about) how we can partner together to make this a dementia-friendly Lancaster County," said Crystal.

Those who wish to become involved with the organization may call 717-487-6223.