Dementia Inclusive Durham West End recently held a forum for community members, caregivers and their loved ones living with dementia. Ellie McConnell was the Emcee of the event that garnered nearly 50 participants and included speakers Mitchell Heflin, MD, Director of Duke Geriatric Evaluation and Treatment Clinic and Goldie Byrd, PhD, Nathan F. Simms Endowed Professor of Biology at North Carolina A&T and Founder of COAACH, the Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s, Aging, and Community Health. Judith Hayes Davis, a daughter and caregiver of a parent with dementia, also spoke.

The event that was supported by the Durham Neighborhood Matching Grants for Health, the West End Community Center Advisory Committee, and a grant from the DUSON Community Health Improvement Partnership Program (D-CHIPP) made possible by The Emmy Lou Tompkins Foundation. Involved faculty with this event and Dementia Inclusive Durham include Kirsten Corazzini and Deirdre Thornlow.