Beyond Dementia
Emergency Kits

Recognizing the value of having vital information and basic supplies available for dementia seniors in the event of an emergency, Wisdom Keeper Bill Wittel approached the Northeast Georgia Red Cross to collaborate with Wisdom Keepers on a pilot program to develop “Beyond Dementia Emergency Kits”. If successful, it could be rolled out across the 21 counties of Northeast Georgia’s Red Cross area.
 
Bill and his team engaged Wisdom Keepers from the original Plan In A Can project, and Libby Dunahoo from NGHS’ Advance Directive Program, to help determine how to incorporate into the emergency kit the PIAC which consists of vital health and treatment information in English or Spanish, an Advance Care Directive, and small personal items, such as eyeglasses, into one container easily transported with the patient to the hospital by family or emergency responders.  The emergency kits will also include a basic Red Cross hygiene kit and items personal to the individual, including medicines, clothes, toiletries, pictures, etc., as determined by their caregiver.  Each bag has a luggage tag with the senior’s emergency contact information. Wisdom Keepers David and Rosemary Shaffer found a donor for the bags and Grace Episcopal Church has agreed to be the beta site for the pilot, where “proof of concept” will occur. Following that, they endorsed and promoted the project plans on how to source, assemble and successfully distribute the emergency kits with other area churches, Lakewood Baptist, First Baptist, and First United Methodist Church. Distribution is also planned through Legacy Link and local memory care units. If you would like to volunteer in this effort, please contact us at info@WisdomProject2030.org.

From Rev. Carolyn Clifton, Associate Pastor at FUMC on 9/21/22: "Thanks to Bill for all your hard work and leadersthip to bring all this to fruition!"