Plastic Surgery & Skin Specialists by BayCare Clinic has been designated as a dementia-friendly business. The designation is part of Brown County’s Purple Angel Initiative, a coalition of people dedicated to making Brown County a dementia-friendly community.
“A business or organization that is considered ‘dementia-friendly’ or ‘dementia-capable’ has the ability to recognize, respond to, welcome and support people with dementia and their caregivers,” says Anne Zieglmeier, dementia care specialist assistant at the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Brown County.
Providers and staff at Plastic Surgery & Skin Specialists by BayCare Clinic went through training to understand more about how people with dementia interact and communicate. They also learned how to create a safe and welcoming environment for people with dementia and their caregivers.
The medical staff at Plastic Surgery & Skin Specialists by BayCare Clinic also completed a more comprehensive training focused on providing medical care for people with dementia.
“Dementia-friendly hospitals and clinics are a new initiative being brought to Brown County,” Zieglmeier says.
The Aging & Disability Resource Center’s Purple Angel Subcommittee has partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association to provide more detailed training for healthcare providers.
“Plastic Surgery & Skin Specialists by BayCare Clinic is the first (healthcare team) to get the ball rolling to meet the criteria in Brown County,” Zieglmeier says.
Approximately 75 businesses and organizations throughout Brown County have completed the Purple Angel Training.
“Our goal as health care providers is always to provide the best possible care and experience for all our patients,” says Dr. Elizabeth O’Connor, plastic surgeon with Plastic Surgery & Skin Specialists by BayCare Clinic. “Becoming a designated dementia-friendly provider is another step we’ve taken to better serve the people we see every day.”