Learn about the history of the movement
August 2020
Momentia is honored to have been selected to receive one of the inaugural Maude’s Awards for Innovation in Alzheimer’s Care, in the category of Making Connections! Our gratitude goes out to the Richard M. and Maude Ferry Foundation for spearheading this amazing awards program, designed to discover, celebrate and share innovative programs and practices of care that are enhancing the quality of life for persons living with dementia and their care partners. Learn more about Maude’s Awards including other winners and applicants and the first annual Innovations in Alzheimer’s Care Book!.
June 2020
On June 1, 2020 The Alzheimer’s Association’s Washington State Chapter announced that Momentia had been selected to receive their 2020 Community Partner Award. The letter to Momentia’s Seattle Stewardship Team stated: “Momentia’s dedication to empowering persons with memory loss and their loved ones to remain active and engaged in the community and Momentia’s role in creating a variety of dementia-friendly opportunities were highlighted as reasons to recognize and celebrate Momentia as a valued community partner. At the heart of Momentia’s nomination was the movement’s ability to consistently build community and networks of support for constituents impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementias.” Read more about Momentia and the Community Partner Award.
Fall 2018
Momentia is highlighted at various conferences including a presentation at the Alzheimer’s Society Caregivers Conference in Bellingham, WA (October 2018), a poster at the Canadian Association on Gerontology Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting in Vancouver, BC (October 2018), and a presentation at the Gerontological Society of America annual meeting in Boston, MA (November 2018).
May 2018
Q13 Changemaker series features Momentia programs including Taproot’s Improvisation theater workshop, Seattle Parks and Recreation’s “Arts in the Park” watercolor painting program with Elderwise, and the Greenwood Alzheimer’s Cafe.
April 2018
Community partners in Northeast Seattle including Lake City Seniors, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Elderwise, Sea Mar Latino Seniors Program, The Art of Alzheimer’s and Full Life hosted a “Momentia in My Neighborhood” gathering in which persons with dementia and their families designed their own dementia-friendly programs.
April 2018
Momentia is again highlighted at the Alzheimer’s Association’s Discovery Conference in Seattle with a presentation on how to start Alzheimer’s Cafes and Dementia-Friendly Walking Groups, and a workshop on how to develop programs in partnership with people with dementia.
November 2017
Members of The Gathering Place early stage memory loss program at Seattle’s Greenwood Senior Center debut their documentary and photo exhibit, “What We Want the World to Know.” This project communicates profound messages about living with memory loss, while building awareness and challenging stigma.
Fall 2017
Partner organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Society, NW Adult Day Health, NW Regional Council, and Bellingham Senior Activity Center begin meeting alongside community members to design Momentia Bellingham, modeled after Momentia Seattle.
October 2017
Community partners such as Stillaguamish Senior Center, Homage Senior Services, the Alzheimer’s Association, Snohomish Senior Center, Public Hospital District #3, Snohomish County Music Project, Synergy Homecare and Leeside Manor Senior Care host a “Momentia in my Neighborhood” community gathering in which north Snohomish County residents with dementia design their own dementia-friendly programs. This work will combine forces with the outreach efforts around Snomentia in south Snohomish County.
June 2017
Momentia is highlighted on a panel presentation at the Dementia Action Alliance “Re-Imagine Life with Dementia” Conference in Atlanta, GA.
April 2017
Momentia is highlighted at the Alzheimer's Association's Discovery Conference with a presentation on how to start your own dementia-friendly programs.
March 2017
Community partners including Edmonds Center for the Arts, Edmonds Senior Center, Mountlake Terrace Senior Center, Cascadia Art Museum, Cedar Creek and Full Life Care host a "Momentia in My Neighborhood" meeting for South Snohomish County residents with dementia to design their own dementia-friendly programs. This will become SnoMentia, the Snohomish County version of the Momentia movement.
December 2016
The Washington State Dementia Action Collaborative promotes Momentia through their Dementia-Friendly Communities Fact Sheet.
October 2016
Community partners including the Senior Center of West Seattle, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and Providence Mount St. Vincent host a "Momentia in My Neighborhood" meeting for West Seattle residents to design their own dementia-friendly programs.
January 2016
The Art of Alzheimer’s and community partners launch The Art of Alzheimer’s “The Artist Within” exhibit at Seattle City Hall. This large scale, public exhibition of art by persons with dementia is the first of its kind in Washington, and highlights the creative capacities of persons with dementia while raising awareness about local dementia-friendly art programs.
January 2016
yes! magazine highlights the Momentia Movement.
Spring 2015
Public launch of the updated momentiaseattle.org website for showcasing dementia-friendly community events and programs. Managed by Charlie Reidy and Melinda Franklin.
March 2015
Momentia Seattle Stewardship Team has its first meeting.
January 2014
Members of the Gathering Place early stage enrichment program at Greenwood Senior Center present their anti-stigma project, highlighting their own perspectives on living full and meaningful lives with dementia. They present their project on the local NPR station as well as at several community events.
January 2014
Momentia New Year's party celebrates "the new dementia story" spreading throughout Seattle.
January 2014
Launch of Momentia Seattle Facebook page.
January 2014
ChangingAging publishes Marigrace Becker's blog post describing Momentia.
December 2013
First public performance of the "Momentia Rap" at Seattle Parks and Recreation Staff Talent Show.
December 2013
Southeast Seattle "Dementia-Friendly Programs" design process begins. Throughout 2014 this group develops the urban farm volunteer program, drum circle and Momentia at the Royal Room.
November 2013
Launch of online Momentia Calendar to keep track of the growing number of dementia-friendly programs and events. Developed by Charlie Reidy, Kavan Peterson and Fisher Qua.
Fall 2013
Organizational changes promote the movement. For example Elderwise creates "Creative Programming Director" position to support community programs; Seattle Parks and Recreation plans for launch of Dementia-Friendly Recreation.
September 2013
First public recognition of "Momentia" as a movement with the Elder Friendly Futures presentation by Marigrace Becker.
Spring 2013
Dr. John Zeisel presents at the Alzheimer’s Association Discovery Conference about his “It Takes A Village” program that provides regular cultural enrichment opportunities for persons living with dementia at public venues like museums, art galleries and theaters. Local organizations are inspired to expand dementia-friendly programs in Seattle, building upon the momentum of existing programs in the area.
Upon Zeisel’s suggestion, organizations that already offer dementia-friendly programs begin meeting monthly. They come together under the name Alzheimer’s Services Coalition, with the purpose to promote current dementia-friendly programs and encourage development of new ones. The word “Momentia” is first used as a nickname or rallying cheer for this coalition. While the Alzheimer’s Coalition disbanded within a year, the word “Momentia” lives on as a name for the grassroots movement made up of the variety of dementia-friendly programs expanding throughout the Puget Sound region.
2010 - 2013 Community-based dementia-friendly programs begin to emerge in the Seattle area
The here:now arts engagement program at the Frye Art Museum started in 2010
The Memory Loss Zoo Walk at Woodland Park Zoo started in 2011
The Greenwood Alzheimer’s Cafe started in 2011 - the second in the nation
The volunteer program at the Cherry Street Food Bank started in early 2013