Kensington Place Redwood City Memory Care Community Shares Dementia Expertise with Local Law Enforcement
Redwood City, CA (PRWEB) May 31, 2016 -- Kensington Place Redwood City is an Assisted Living community serving those with Alzheimer ’s disease and other types of dementia. But the new community's leaders aim to serve more than the nearly 60 residents under their roof. In late May, Kensington Place began training local emergency personnel to recognize dementia and improve interactions with those affected.
There are currently numerous cases across the country where someone finds themselves in trouble with the law with no recollection as what landed them in handcuffs and hot water. According to a recent article in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, some dementias like Frontotemporal Dementia may be more likely to present with criminal behavior. A case in Washington state was dismissed in May when the judge ruled the 79 year old defendant was not competent to be tried for the crime of hitting and killing a motorcyclist due to dementia. In Fresno, an elderly woman is accused of killing her husband, covering him in newspaper and going about her routine until neighbors intervened.
Seniors without the ability to comprehend that their actions are indeed serious "crimes" such as vehicular homicide, domestic violence, theft, and possession can confound law enforcement, judges, and families who all try to work with justice and compassion.
That is why Kensington Place Redwood City has been reaching out to local law enforcement and other emergency personnel to share tips for assessing a situation where someone with dementia may be involved and techniques of how to gain information, consent, and cooperation.
Officers are finding it helpful to know the risks for and signs of dementia, resources available and how to reach out before a crisis occurs. Relevant statistics such as 1 in 9 Americans over the age of 65 and nearly 1/3 of those over 85 will have some type of dementia is useful in assessing the risk of someone having dementia when responding to a 911 call. Communication techniques, understanding the stages of Alzheimer's,, and gaining trust and cooperation are all components of the overall seminars which can be staged in short 15-30 minute sessions.
Atherton Police Department's Training Manager Jennifer Frew shared, "It was a pleasure working with Kensington Place and the information they provided was very helpful. I have shared with other agencies who would benefit."
“Many people do not realize that 100-plus types of dementia affecting more than 5 million Americans. The need is here and now,” noted Executive Director John Graham citing National Institutes of Health statistics, "it is important that everyone with resources come together to create supports for seniors in their communities."
To learn more about seminars and support groups that are offered to the public by Kensington Place, please call 650-363-9200 or email info(at)KensingtonPlaceRedwoodCity(dot)com.
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Kensington Place Redwood City Memory Care Community is now open and revolutionizing care for those with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia in the Bay Area. The beautiful community, filled with the warmth of family, friends, expert team, and pets, features two well-designed neighborhoods to better serve varying stages of ability and care needs. The new community is located in Redwood City on El Camino Real and Oakwood Drive.
To learn more about Kensington Place, call (650) 363-9200 or visit http://www.kensingtonplaceredwoodcity.com.
Jessica Derkis, Kensington Place Redwood City, http://www.KensingtonPlaceRedwoodCity.com, +1 6503639200 Ext: 6425, [email protected]
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