On Friday, September 19, the Flathead Valley showed up for caregivers. At Canvas Church, the Flathead Valley Dementia Resource Fair—organized by Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Flathead Respite, the Flathead County Agency on Aging (AOA), and the Alzheimer’s Association Montana Chapter—brought together 54 attendees and 22 local organizations for short presentations, round-table conversations, and one-to-one connections over a shared lunch. From the County’s perspective, it was a practical, hopeful day focused on real needs and real solutions.
AOA led two Dementia Live® Experience sessions, both fully booked in advance thanks to coordinated outreach with the fair. An assisted-living administrator who participated asked to enroll his staff in a group Dementia Live® session. What stood out most was the strong, vocal desire from family members to understand what living with dementia might entail. Post-session surveys underscored why they came: to grasp how dementia affects daily life and to learn practical, empathetic ways to communicate and care. Many left with two things that matter: new insight—and validation that some of what they’re doing is already right.
“The Flathead Valley Dementia Resource Fair was a true team effort, from the agencies and vendors who organized and presented, to the service providers, volunteers and caregivers who attended. When our community collaborates like this, we create lasting connections that make a real difference in people’s lives,” said AOA Director Carla Dyment.
The County’s Crisis Assistance Team (CAT) added an essential piece to the day. Behavioral Health Supervisor James Pyke explained how CAT operates both as a mobile crisis response and a care-coordination service, now available seven days a week across the valley. He clarified when to request help through 911 versus 988 and why that routing matters for timely, appropriate response. The networking at the fair—meeting the faces behind programs—strengthens CAT’s ability to connect people to long-term supports; about 20% of CAT’s monthly clients are older adults, many living with dementia, and the team often serves as the bridge between individuals, their families, and the resources that sustain care over time. As Pyke noted afterward, the most useful part of the event was the interagency outreach that makes future referrals faster and smoother.
Dyment also offered a clear overview of AOA’s role as the local hub for aging services: nutrition support through Meals on Wheels and social dining; in-home services; targeted respite for family caregivers; and trained staff who connect people to benefits and community resources—even when those services are outside AOA’s own programs. AOA is not Medicaid; it is the Valley’s only subsidized local support dedicated to helping older adults and caregivers—prioritizing those with the greatest economic or social need—so people can age in place with dignity and independence for as long as safely possible. Dyment’s personal story about her grandmother’s undiagnosed dementia captured what this work is really about: preserving the relationships and quality time that make a life feel like home.
What happened at the fair was simple and significant: caregivers asked for skills, connection, and empathy—and the community responded. The County will keep building on this momentum: expanding Dementia Live® trainings for facilities and first responders, refining supports based on caregiver feedback, and growing the fair so more families can find the guidance they need. In Flathead County, we measure success not only by the services we provide, but by how well they help people care for one another.