FAIRFIELD, WA — Fairfield Community Church will host a free Dementia Friends informational program on Sunday, October 25, from noon to 1:00 p.m. The hour-long presentation will be led by Rev. Brad Buff, a retired Presbyterian pastor with a special interest in older adult ministry.
Dementia Friends is a community-based program designed to increase understanding of dementia and help create communities where people living with dementia feel supported, understood, and included. The program relies on volunteers and regional organizations to bring information and awareness about dementia to local communities. Those who attend a Dementia Friends presentation become Dementia Friends and are better equipped to support individuals and families affected by dementia.
Rev. Buff has served as pastor and associate pastor in churches in central California, Seattle, and Spokane. He has also served as a chaplain at a Spokane retirement community. Throughout his career, he has worked with people of all ages, but his particular interest in older adult ministry led him to earn a Master of Social Work degree in geriatric social work.
Now retired, Rev. Buff enjoys spending time with his family and being a grandfather. He also enjoys hiking, biking, and playing music on his ukulele, dulcimer, and other instruments he has collected over the years.
The Dementia Friends program focuses on several important messages:
Dementia is not a normal part of aging.
Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain.
Dementia is not just about memory problems.
It is possible to have a good quality of life while living with dementia.
There is more to a person than their dementia.
The presentation is open to anyone interested in learning more about dementia and how communities can become more supportive of individuals living with dementia and their families. No registration is required, and there is no cost to attend.
Fairfield Community Church is located at 204 W. Hamilton Ave., Fairfield, WA. Fairfield is approximately a 30-minute drive south of Spokane on Highway 27.
For more information, contact Interim Pastor Joe Bruce at 509-954-3041.