Optional Activities 2026

Optional activities and resources to provide education and intervention

The following are suggested activities grantees may choose to implement in their organizations or in the communities they serve. The state Department of Health (DOH) will provide informational resources and support to grantees to implement the activities. All information and resources shared with organizations and communities through this grant must come from a credible source of information or from one of the links on this page.

Deliverable (all optional activities): Organizations must submit a DOH online activity report after completing their chosen activity. This report will include a summary of the activity, the number of participants, and the outcomes or results.

1. Promote brain health: In partnership with subject matter experts in your community, host a brain health event providing information, available screenings, and the potentially modifiable factors to reduce the risk of dementia (PDF). Screenings could include those for risk factors like depression, diabetes, hearing loss, and high blood pressure, as well as risk factors for traumatic brain injury (PDF), such as falls, home safety, and vision problems.
    
2. Promote brain health: Host 3 additional Brain Health and Dementia Awareness (BDAC) educational sessions and submit sign-in sheets to DOH. Assist BDAC participants with completing an online evaluation survey or inputting paper copy evaluation data into the online survey. Promote using the Brain Health Habit Builder program.
    
3. Encourage partnerships: Connect with the Area Agencies on Aging, the Alzheimer’s Association, your local public health agency, and other partner organizations to identify resources available in your community.
   
   Build and promote a resource library online or within the community that identifies resources, such as activities that promote brain health or address the modifiable factors to reduce dementia risk, cognitive screening locations, support groups, memory cafés, respite care services, gerontology services, care partner support services, etc.
    
4. Encourage partnerships: In partnership with trained providers, host a cognitive screening event in your community. Offer presentations and resources about the importance of early detection and diagnosis, and encourage participants to talk to their doctor and to schedule their Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, including a cognition screening.
    
5. Increase awareness of dementia: Organize and host a Dementia Friends information session. Identify an organization member or community member to take the next steps in becoming a Dementia Friends Champion to deliver the program themselves.
    
6. Increase awareness of dementia: Choose one of the following options:
   • Develop a program that creates sector-specific plans with community partners to help people with dementia and their care partners. Local sectors might include arts and recreation programs, libraries, or local government.
   • Implement a faith-based dementia friendly program, such as Memory Sunday or Purple Sunday (PDF), or implement the Dementia Friendly America guide (PDF) to make your worship services more dementia friendly.
      
7. Connect people with information and resources: Organize or collaborate to implement a program such as a Memory Café (PDF); learn how to start a Memory Café and access free trainings and support at Memory Cafés Washington - Memory and Brain Wellness Center. Or you could create a support group for people living with dementia or their care partners.
    
8. Connect people with information and resources: Implement a program to provide caregivers with resources such as the Community Living Connections website or the Washington Family Caregiver Learning Portal. Other resources to share or activities to implement might include:
   • Powerful Tools for Caregivers
   • Respite for All program
   • Pathways to Respite (PDF)
   • Offer the Alzheimer’s Association’s Training for Caregivers Program
   • Start a caregiver support group