Vernon and IH partner to create a dementia-friendly community

The journey towards becoming a dementia-friendly community in Vernon began several years ago with conversations about how best to support its aging population.

According to the Manager of Community Planning & Sustainability with the City of Vernon, Trisa Atwood, the Vernon Seniors Action Network approached the City to collaborate on a grant application for the Age and Dementia-Friendly Community Plan.

That collaboration ignited the process of making the city more user-friendly for seniors.

“When we were looking at the Official Community Plan, we were asking ‘how do people find their way around the city?’ Then, if you add in a layer of dementia or Alzheimer's, there's another filter that makes it more difficult to find your way around,” notes Trisa.

After asking for suggestions from key partners, Interior Health joined in and has played a key role, sharing evidence-based resources, identifying funding opportunities and providing a health lens to the work.

Another partnership was the Simon Fraser University School of Gerontology, which helped with the Age and Dementia-Friendly Community Plan.

SFU students were invited to participate by the City of Vernon planning staff and utilized their Swan Dementia Tool to help with livability for people with dementia.

While the OCP has been approved, it's in the early stages of being implemented.

Vernon’s OCP includes a focus on how urban design can promote independence for seniors with dementia who may have trouble with everyday tasks like walking the neighbourhood and grocery shopping.

The dementia-friendly features include:

• Clearer signage in public spaces and buildings
• Distinctive building designs, especially at key corners and landmarks, to support memory and orientation
• Use of colour and visual cues to help people identify the different neighbourhoods and destinations
• Improved accessibility and readability in parks, facilities and public areas

Trisa notes there are many stories about seniors with dementia who take a walk around their neighbourhood and suddenly get lost. She says the City hopes distinct landmarks help.

“We've encouraged bold colours on buildings and put some language in the OCP to encourage unique buildings at corners,” says Trisa. “As we start to see some redevelopment around downtown, uptown and in the village centres, we will work with applicants to ensure their design meets our guidelines. If they’ve got a corner site, we will try to make sure there is something unique about the building or a strong feature that sits in your memory.”

Vernon’s plan also addresses stigma, recognizing that both people living with dementia and their caregivers can experience isolation or feel invisible.

By including stigma awareness, the City aims to ensure that community voices, including those who may need additional support, are considered when decisions are made.

Vernon city planners have great pride in the plan, and they’re excited to see it come to life.

“I think it was a really great project to be on since it impacts the whole community,” says Vernon's senior planner Caitlyn Wiltsie. “Seeing your work get out there and affect the daily life of residents is really fulfilling. You go ‘Wow, I've made a difference, and I've made a positive impact on their day.’ And then seeing some of the initiatives start to emerge is exciting, too.”

Related StoriesIH: How dementia is diagnosed and what to expect

Janelle says the goal in highlighting the strong work the City of Vernon has done in supporting older adults and people living with dementia is to inspire other communities to adopt policies and planning approaches that foster inclusive, accessible environments for all.

She explains that her team regularly collaborates with local government staff to advance age‑friendly policies, and that incorporating a dementia‑friendly lens into this work, while still relatively new, is becoming increasingly important as communities continue to age.

“When it comes to age-friendly, it's something that we've been working with communities to advocate for through that dementia lens,” she notes. “It is still a relatively new area of exploration within municipal governments.”

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About Alzheimer's Awareness Month

January is Alzheimer's Awareness Monthin Canada. The Alzheimer Society provides resources and information, as well as First Link, a free and confidential dementia helpline. Learn more. 

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