Dementia-friendly communities: It takes everyone
Learn how you can play a role in supporting people living with invisible disabilities like dementia.
Invisible disabilities and dementia
Invisible Disabilities Awareness Week runs from October 18 to 24, 2026, and we’re encouraging local businesses, communities and individuals to play an active role in building more inclusive and welcoming spaces for people living with dementia and their care partners in Manitoba.
Dementia is not always easy to recognize
Even if you know the signs and symptoms of dementia, you wouldn’t know whether or not someone is living with it just by their appearance.
An invisible disability is any physical, mental or neurological condition that isn’t clearly visible or immediately obvious to others, but its symptoms can affect a person’s daily quality of life.
Each dementia experience is unique, and without public awareness, having hidden symptoms can lead to misunderstandings, unmet needs or feeling judgement from others.
Caring for someone with invisible symptoms can also lead to similar challenges. Friends, family or employers might not understand what it means to be a caregiver, or the time and effort it requires.
As more people learn about dementia and how those living with the disease experience the world differently, our communities grow to be more understanding, accepting and supportive.
We all play a role in creating dementia-friendly communities
Nine people are diagnosed with dementia every day in Manitoba. As diagnoses continue to rise each year, so does the likeliness that you or someone you know will be touched by dementia.
Creating dementia-friendly communities is necessary to help reduce stigma and equip communities with the language, skills and tools to face the future.
A community can be any physical location, like a neighbourhood, or social environment where groups of people share an interest like a book club, faith group or grocery store. A dementia-friendly community focuses on supporting people living with dementia and their care partners so they feel welcomed, included and comfortable in places they live, work and play.
When community members and organizations work together to create dementia-friendly change for our social and physical environments, our communities can improve the quality of life for people living with dementia.
Join us in building a more dementia-friendly Manitoba
No role is too small, and every small step can make a difference. We invite you to help create more inclusive and welcoming spaces for people living with dementia and their care partners in your communities.
Actions for you, your organization and your community:
Enroll in Building Dementia-Friendly Communities
This free course by Dementia-Friendly Canada helps you learn about dementia and develop the skills to be more supportive and inclusive in your everyday interactions in your neighbourhood.
Learn about accessible signage
Six in 10 people with disabilities experience barriers to accessing public spaces.
Read about the benefits of dementia-friendly signs in your office, organization or community space.
Book a presentation for your community
Our educational presentations will help your business, organization or community gain a deeper understanding of dementia and what it means to be dementia-friendly.
Read real stories from people living with dementia
Listen and learn from the stories and experiences of people living with dementia, like Jackie, who shares her story of living with Posterior Cortical Atrophy.
Understand how dementia can affect communication
Learn five communication tips and how to approach conversations with people living with dementia.
Make a difference as a volunteer
Volunteers make our work possible and help families affected by dementia get the support they need.
