Oklahoma Eagle Newswire
Mayor G.T. Bynum has committed to designate Tulsa as a Dementia Friendly community, becoming the first Dementia Friendly city in Oklahoma. To begin this process, Mayor Bynum will convene the Dementia Friendly Tulsa Symposium on April 5, from 9 a.m. to noon at Morton Comprehensive Health Services, 1334 N. Lansing Ave.
This event is open to invited guests and to members of the media. Mayor Bynum will speak at 9:15 a.m. and 11:50 a.m.
The symposium will focus on best practices that foster livability and vitality for both patients and caregivers. Participants can learn how to enhance life for many of Tulsa’s older residents and promote a culture of awareness that will benefit our entire community.
Dementia not only has a devastating impact on one in three seniors, it also takes a tremendous toll on employees. Of those who are caregivers: 54 percent shorten work hours, 15 percent take a leave of absence, 7 percent turn down a promotion, and 9 percent ultimately quit. In the U.S., $34 billion annually is lost in revenue and productivity due to caregiving responsibilities.
