Person With Dementia Found
Community Partnership Saving Lives and Dollars
Friday, October 26th
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The increasing demands that dementia will continue to place on agencies and individuals has led the communities across Calhoun County to collaborate on solutions and the development of the Miles for Memories Coalition. They identified the needs of the community as it relates to dementia, as well as developed programs to meet those needs and implement them in a unique, successful and reproducible way. Learn about the findings for both the person living with dementia as well as their caregivers, new programs developed utilizing technologies in innovative ways, and new life-enrichment programs. An added feature of many of the programs is the integration of emergency services to increase peace of mind for the caregiver as well as ensure that emergency responders have the necessary information for the safe return, or appropriate care of a loved one. The Help Home program alone has been instrumental in an estimated savings that exceeds $75,000 in just six months, plus significant emergency services staff hours. These innovative programs went from ideas to implementation with an all-volunteer leadership committee.
Sherii Sherban is Chief Operating Officer for WW Thayne Advertising Consultants, Inc. and Scene Publications. Sherban serves as executive editor for Scene Magazine, publisher and executive editor for Senior Times of South Central Michigan, and is the producer and host of “Be Scene On Air” weekly TV show.
Sherban has been an advocate for mature adults for more than 25 years, which is demonstrated through a shared leadership role for Miles for Memories, a grassroots organization started in 2013 that seeks to develop solutions for those impacted by dementia in Calhoun County through movement, programming and research. She received a 2016 George Award from the Battle Creek Enquirer for her efforts with Miles for Memories and the Red Rose Award in 2018 from the Battle Creek Downtown Rotary.
As part of the volunteer leadership for Miles for Memories Sherban helps coordinate a grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to enhance the technology services surrounding dementia in Calhoun County. She has led the Help Home committee to bring the Personal I.D. bracelets, as well as the Senior I.D. program for caregivers, to the county. She is a certified instructor for the CPI Dementia Capable Care Specialist certification program as well as a Dementia Friend trainer. She is on the council for Dementia Friendly Communities, and serves on the statewide coalition.