Our History
The National Council of Dementia Minds began with a single presentation that sparked a movement.
In 2019, eight of us from different parts of the country were invited to come together to share our personal experiences living with dementia at a conference for care providers in Michigan. Anhat happened next surprised everyone—including us.
The audience was deeply moved. Many said it was the first time they'd ever heard people living with dementia present at a conference. Some said they hadn’t even thought it possible.
Requests for more speaking engagements poured in. And everywhere we went, we met more individuals living with dementia who wanted to join the effort. Inspired by this momentum, we decided to create the National Council of Dementia Minds, an organization dedicated to outreach, support, and education created by persons living with dementia—not just about us.
We incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 2021 and received our 501(c)(3) designation that same year. Since then, our original Dementia Minds group has inspired the formation of nine more Dementia Minds™ groups—each composed of individuals living with different types of dementia or mild cognitive impairment.
We now have a committed team of volunteers to help support our growing number of groups, and in 2024, we hired our first staff to help expand our reach.
To date, we have provided educational opportunities for tens of thousands of people across all 50 states and 14 countries.
And we continue to grow, guided by the vision that inspired our founding: to elevate the voices and experiences of people living with dementia.
And we continue to grow, guided by the vision that inspired our founding: to elevate the voices and experiences of people living with dementia.
Watch this video interview of the original members of the National Council of Dementia Minds by Lori La Bey of Alzheimer's Speaks Radio.
Bonnie
Billings, Montana
Dementia Minds was a gift in my life at a time when I needed it most. Our first project, A Journey with Dementia Minds, received rave reviews and opened doors for further educational and advocacy activities. As lived experience subject matter experts, the National Council of Dementia Minds gives those of us living with a dementia diagnosis a voice.
Steven
Meridian, Idaho
Thanks to Dementia Minds, I’ve found friends who truly ‘get me’ as a person living with dementia. Together we are changing the world for the better, not just for each other, but for people with dementia everywhere.