Westmont Public Library will host a fall series of dementia-awareness programs beginning Wednesday, Sept. 2, as part of the Village of Westmont's official Dementia-Friendly community initiative.

The series is open to people living with dementia, their caregivers and anyone who wants to learn more about the disease. Advance registration is required.

The first program, "10 Warning Signs of Dementia," runs from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 2 in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association. It covers how to recognize common signs, how to approach someone about memory concerns, the importance of early detection and possible tests and assessments used in diagnosis.

Three monthly Memory Cafe sessions follow on the third Monday of each month: Sept. 21, Oct. 19 and Nov. 16, all from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Kwasek Meeting Room on the library's second floor. The cafes give people with dementia and their care partners a chance to socialize and connect with others in a similar situation. Partners for the Memory Cafe sessions include The Birches, Oasis Senior Advisors, Equitable Advisors and Cambridge Secure.

Two workshops from The Birches round out the series. Patti Terkovich and Mary Ferguson will present "Understanding the Stages of Alzheimer's" on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., covering what caregivers can expect as the disease progresses. Their second session, "Handling the Holidays," is Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., offering ideas for safely enjoying the holiday season with a loved one who has dementia.

The fall series builds on a summer initiative under the same Dementia-Friendly Westmont umbrella. Village Manager Jim Gunther photographed area residents living with dementia for a "Faces Behind Dementia" exhibit displayed at the library through August.

"We are very proud of the fact that Westmont is a Dementia-Friendly community in which we strive to raise awareness regarding the challenges of dealing with dementia," Gunther said in a July 24 village announcement about the photo exhibit.

The Village of Westmont announced the fall series on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

To register, visit westmontlibrary.org/events or call 630-869-6150.

Upcoming Westmont dementia-awareness programs:

  • Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1–2:30 p.m. — "10 Warning Signs of Dementia" (Alzheimer's Association)
  • Monday, Sept. 21, 1–2 p.m. — Memory Cafe (Kwasek Meeting Room)
  • Wednesday, Oct. 14, 6–7:30 p.m. — "Understanding the Stages of Alzheimer's" (The Birches)
  • Monday, Oct. 19, 1–2 p.m. — Memory Cafe (Kwasek Meeting Room)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1–2:30 p.m. — "Handling the Holidays" (The Birches)
  • Monday, Nov. 16, 1–2 p.m. — Memory Cafe (Kwasek Meeting Room)