Beyond the Badge: Creating a Blueprint for Community Care

Chris Perry, a Senior Citizen Resource Officer in Ohio, shares the deeply personal experience of losing his mother to dementia in 2018 and how this led to his current role with the Amberley Village Police Department. Officer Perry discusses the early, often subtle signs of his mom’s dementia, the emotional toll of her decline, and his frustration with societal misunderstandings. He advocates for nationwide police training in dementia awareness, highlighting how understanding the disease can lead to more empathetic responses, prevent tragic misunderstandings, and even offer a profound sense of purpose and healing for officers dealing with their own trauma. His work extends to proactive community engagement — assisting seniors with daily tasks, providing practical home safety tips, and offering companionship to combat isolation and loneliness.

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