“Capacity Building in Community-Engaged Research: The Flagstaff Dementia-Friendly City Initiative”

TL;DR

The Flagstaff Dementia-Friendly City Initiative shows how community partnerships and research can create sustainable dementia-friendly changes in a local area.

Contribution

It introduces a practical model for integrating community-based research with dementia-friendly city development.

Findings

Collaborative partnerships led to the formation of a diverse Dementia-Friendly Community Council.

Flagstaff achieved Dementia-Friendly City designation within a year through research-driven strategies.

Challenges highlighted the need for sustained engagement and distributed leadership.

Abstract

The Flagstaff Dementia-Friendly City Initiative demonstrates how capacity building in community-engaged research can drive sustainable change. While research was not the initial goal, the initiative naturally integrated Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles, strengthening local research capacity while addressing dementia as a growing public health challenge in northern Arizona.

Collaborative partnerships among Northern Arizona University (NAU), the Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority Institute (NARBHA), the Northern Arizona Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance (NAZADA), caregivers, people with memory challenges, healthcare providers, and local organizations formed the foundation for an inclusive framework. Using the Dementia Friendly America Community Toolkit, the initiative followed a four-phase process: Convene, Engage, Analyze, and Act, leading to the formation of a 30+ member Dementia-Friendly Community Council representing diverse sectors.

Capacity-building strategies included establishing collaborative governance structures, conducting a community needs assessment, and expanding dementia-friendly education programs. Within a year, Flagstaff achieved Dementia-Friendly City designation, integrating research-driven frameworks into community programs, public service improvements, and caregiver respite initiatives.

Challenges such as sustaining engagement and aligning research priorities with community needs highlighted the necessity of distributed leadership and ongoing relationship-building. Future directions focus on broadening dementia-friendly policies, increasing community education and respite care resources, and enhancing accessibility across public and healthcare spaces. This initiative illustrates how CBPR enhances local research capacity while informing dementia-friendly policy and services, offering a model for other communities pursuing similar designations.