Empowering Partnership Network (EPN)
The Empowering Partnership Network (EPN) is a diverse group of partners that connect and influence dementia research and innovation, advocacy and awareness, and the design and development of systems and spaces intended for people living with dementia.
Mission
The mission of the Empowering Partnership Network is to create a diverse peer network of partners that are leading a movement to promote cognitive health and transform the experience of living with dementia.
Vision
The vision of the Empowering Partnership Network is to make an impact that matters through research, policy, and practice.
Goals & Priorities
Leading the Movement
Creating a world where people living with dementia are seen, heard, and valued and where their contributions and experiences are a priority will take a global movement.
The EPN is leading this Dementia Positive movement while offering opportunities for peers to connect and amplify their impact.
Purpose & Meaningful Engagement Opportunities
Peer-to-Peer Support Programs
Improving the Post Diagnostic Experience
Reducing Stigma
Community Education and Awareness
Why Participate?
- Experience a sense of purpose
- Engage in various meaningful initiatives that matter to you
- Form relationships with others on similar journeys
- Share your story to positively influence change
- Be your authentic self without feeling judged
- Grow and learn
- Make a difference
- Offer your strengths and gifts
- Develop and contribute your leadership skills
Activities
Peer-to-Peer Connection
Advocacy
Awareness/Education
Research
Program Development
Creative/Performing Arts
Workforce Development (informal/formal)
Social/Policy Change
The Pledge
As a Supporting Partner of the Empowering Partnerships Initiative, I will…
- Be available to support the Empowering Partnerships Network priorities as I am able: List priorities
- Share my story, or the stories of others in the Empowering Partnerships Network, to positively influence change
- Collaborate with and spread the word about meaningful engagement opportunities that exist through the Empowering Partnerships Network
- Offer my strengths/gifts to make a difference in policy, research, and/or practice
- Develop and/or contribute leadership skills to support Empowering Partnerships Network priorities.
- Promote the Empowering Partnerships Network personally and professionally within my sphere of influence
- Share information about the Empowering Partnerships Network (EPN) who may be interested in the EPN
- Help interested individuals directly connect to the Empowering Partnerships Network via phone, email, or referral
Meet the Partners
The Empowering Partnership Network (EPN) is a diverse peer network of partners who are living with dementia, have experience as care partners, and allies who are leading a movement to promote cognitive health and transform the experience of living with dementia.
Accomplishments
Research & Innovation
Most research today for Alzheimer’s and Dementia is around the cure. While this is important, people living with dementia desire ways to live well today. People living with dementia need researchers like you to know what is important to their lives and to have a say in WHAT is studied, HOW it is planned and implemented.
Advocacy & Awareness
Most research today for Alzheimer’s and Dementia is around the cure. While this is important, people living with dementia desire ways to live well today. People living with dementia need researchers like you to know what is important to their lives and to have a say in WHAT is studied, HOW it is planned and implemented.
Design & Development
Most research today for Alzheimer’s and Dementia is around the cure. While this is important, people living with dementia desire ways to live well today. People living with dementia need researchers like you to know what is important to their lives and to have a say in WHAT is studied, HOW it is planned and implemented.
The dementia positive movement
What is Dementia Positive?
Dementia positivity is the practice of identifying strengths of people living with dementia and adjusting attitudes, beliefs, communications, and behaviors to create a community where perceptions of people are driven by their strengths, not anticipation of what they have lost or will lose as a result of their cognitive decline.
How it Started
Nearly twenty years after LiveWell opened its doors as the Alzheimer’s Resource Center, the World Health Organization and Alzheimer’s Disease International released a comprehensive report that proposed a new vision statement for the U.S. national dementia plan. This proposal encouraged the use of dementia capable, dementia friendly, and dementia positive concepts to inform policy, practice, and research.
LiveWell’s Dementia Positive Commitment
Our mission is to become the epicenter of the dementia positive movement. Innovations to our campus, practices, and resources are informed and driven by input from people living with dementia. Through research, education, professional consulting, and advocacy we will spread the impact of what we learn, practice, and model on campus to communities around Connecticut, the U.S., and the world.
Leading the Movement
In assessing the dementia friend, capable, and positive concepts, we discovered our our focus as national leaders of creating an innovative dementia care community had focused pimarily on addressing the living experience and needs of people living with dementia and their caregivers. Now it was time to pursue initiatives that included people living with dementia as equal contributors and bring true inclusion, belonging, and dementia positivity to our campus and philosophy.
This discovery changed everything.
It prompted deep dialogue with the people who live, work, and visit with us. What we learned in those conversations resulted in many changes to internal policy, practices, and plans. It even inspired a name change from the Alzheimer’s Resource Center to LiveWell. As conversations continued it became overwhelmingly clear that empowering people living with dementia and implementing their contributions would also require an entire campus transformation.
With a clearer understanding that living well means more than access to services and resources that can improve health and opportunities for social connection, growth, belonging, and continued purpose, we have continued to seek out ways to invite contributions from people living with dementia to co-design and co-create a dementia positive community together.
Join the Empowering Partnerships Network
Complete this form to join our network of partners that are working to change the narrative of how dementia is seen, treated, and accepted. When you submit your form you'll receive the details of an upcoming informational session to join us to see how you can get involved!