Group of nine people, eight women and one man, standing together indoors and smiling at the camera. Some are wearing name tags.

Dementia Friendly Bloomington

Logo with a stylized human figure, purple in color, hugging a globe with a map, text reads 'Dementia Friendly Bloomington' in purple capital letters.
Dayna Thompson

Supported by: Southern Indiana Physicians Neurology (IU Health) and IU Health Foundation

Dayna Thompson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Dementia Professional, Positive Approach to Care Trainer and Consultant, she has a history of work in behavioral health and has been working in dementia care for over 10 years.

What is your connection to dementia?

Dayna: These days it is mostly professional – supporting people living with dementia in living their best lives.  Both of my grandmothers also had dementia (Alzheimer’s and Wernike-Korsakoff’s).

I am proud that Bloomington is the first DF community in Indiana and that we have a good number of people living with dementia from this area who are advocating locally and across the US for better DF practices.

Liaison Contact Information:

Dayna Thompson: Email

Since 2017, when Bloomington was designated a dementia friendly community, we have accomplished so much.

  • A Dementia Friendly Care Partner Development Program was launched and has been recognized across the country as leading the way in how we can shape Dementia Support.

  • Several local people living with dementia have spoken about their lived experience and are leading the way in changing the stigma surrounding dementia at regional and state conferences, and even on a NATIONAL board.

  • Committees and community partners have worked hard in developing innovative programs and have advocated for change at the local, state, and national level by speaking up and speaking out to leaders.

  • We were also PROUD to participate in the FIRST annual “Taking it to the Streets” event in 2023 - disrupting the algorithm of “dementia” to show how we LIVE WELL with a changing brain.

Learn about our local Dementia Friendly Committees

  • This group is comprised of people living with dementia and care partners. The group organizes a care partner book club, an annual caregiver recognition event, consults with other DF groups in the area, and engages in advocacy.

    For more information, contact Amanda at admin@dfindiana.org

  • This “core team” coordinates other dementia friendly committees and plans large events such as conferences and advocacy efforts.

    For more information, contact Dayna at daynathompson812@gmail.com

  • This group focuses on improving supports for people living with dementia and care partners in our community, as well as better equipping our healthcare and social service systems to support PLWD.

    For more information, please contact Heather at simplifiedeldercare@gmail.com

  • This program seeks to connect people in the community to a friendly neighbor who can be a listening ear and help connect to community resources.

    If you are interested in speaking with a connecting neighbor or volunteering for the program, please contact Julia

    If you are a current volunteer looking for resources, click here.

Three middle-aged people, two women and one man, standing together and smiling. They are indoors in front of a beige wall with a hotel or conference center logo featuring a stylized tree. The woman on the left is wearing glasses, a gray striped sweater, and jewelry. The woman in the middle is wearing glasses, a blue shirt, a colorful scarf, and has a name tag that says "TEEN." The man on the right is bald with glasses, wearing a tan jacket over a black shirt and khaki pants, holding a cellphone.
A woman and an older man sit at a table with microphones in front of a red backdrop with white text and logos, including "Indiana", "meijer", and "iuhoosiers.com". The woman is raising her fist and speaking, while the man looks on.
A group of smiling women and men posing outdoors with a city skyline in the background, during daytime. Dementia Action Alliance Conference in Atlanta Georgia.

For additional local resources take a look at Area 10 Dementia Outreach Program where services and programs from all over Monroe County are located!

David White speaks at a dementia friendly conference in Indiana. An elderly man with white hair and a beard, wearing glasses and a dark jacket, speaking into a microphone during a conference or panel discussion.
Group of four women smiling and standing together outdoors on a sunny day, with trees and buildings in the background.
Four seniors standing indoors, wearing purple sashes, at an event or celebration.
Logo for Dementia Friends Indiana featuring a stylized flower and text indicating it is part of a Dementia Friendly America initiative.
Logo with four colorful shapes forming a stylized human figure and the text 'Dementia Friendly America' in purple.
A large group of mostly older women and a few men gathered for a photo in an indoor room, with some holding certificates of achievement. A large quilt with colorful patterns hangs on the wall behind them, and some of the people are smiling and looking at the camera.

Interested in getting involved?

See how you can become a Dementia Friend or a Dementia Aware Location to support your community today!

Learn More
Learn More

Thank you to all of the businesses who have completed their Level II Certification in our area!

We appreciate you going above and beyond!

Logo of Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana with tagline 'Seeking the Spirit | Building Community | Changing the World'
Monroe County History Center logo with a stone archway and green door.
Logo with a green circle containing a stylized tree and the words "mop" and "mop" written in green, with a white circle in the "o" of the second "mop"
Indiana University Bloomington and Indiana University Cinema logos
Group of people standing together in front of a sign that reads 'Outstanding Caregiver Recognition 2020.' The group includes men and women of various ages, dressed in casual and professional attire, inside a room with large windows and acoustic wall panels.

Know an amazing professional caregiver?

Every year the Community Dementia Alliance finds ways to recognize the outstanding care partner professionals in our community. Check back here to see when nominations are open again for the year!

Nominations not currently open - check back soon!
Nominations not currently open - check back soon!

  • Outstanding Caregiver Recognition

    Natalie Stant

  • Susan and Steve Taylor - CDA

    Community Dementia Alliance of Bloomington

  • Jan Bays and Jan Gerkensmyer

    DF Bloomington Conference

  • Monroe County History Museum

    Andrea Hadsell and Dayna Thompson

  • Wendy Rubin - CDA

    Community Dementia Alliance of Bloomington and Fierce Advocate