Mayor Bynum hosts a morning symposium on making Tulsa “Dementia Friendly”. It was held at the Morton Comprehensive Health Services.
The symposium focused on best practices to foster livability and vitality for both patients and caregivers. Participants learned how to enhance life for many of Tulsa’s older residents and promote a culture of awareness that will benefit the entire community.
Dementia not only has a devastating impact on one in three seniors, it also takes a toll on employees. Of those who are caregivers: 54 percent shorten work hours, 15 percent take a leave of absence, 7 percent turn down a promotion, and 9 percent ultimately quit. In the U.S., $34 billion annually is lost in revenue and productivity due to caregiving responsibilities.
Cases of dementia are expected to grow as baby boomers age.