BAKER CITY -- Lessie Dickinson shuffled around the table, catching herself when she kicked a chair.

She paused, picked up a pen beside a notepad. With hands clad in thick gloves, she jotted down: "Write something on the notepad."

With dark glasses obscuring her vision and headphones piping in the sounds of a helicopter and bingo game, Dickinson looked around the room but could not remember the list of five instructions (button and fold the white shirt, count 37 cents from the coin purse, write the names of three family members on the notepad, sort playing cards by suit and take Tuesday's pill).

"It was an eye-opener, for sure," she said after the simulation designed to mimic what it's like for those with dementia.

She said this experience helped her understand what life is like for her husband, Ross, who has been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to dementia.

"Now I understand when Ross says 'I can only do one thing at a time,'" she said.

Dickinson, along with Mark Bogart and Jane Bohn, were the first to try the simulation kit that is now part of the educational tools for Dementia-Friendly Baker County, an organization that helps people with dementia live independently for as long as possible.

The simulation will be part of a free community forum Saturday, Oct. 19, in Baker City.

"Dementia: A Compassionate Community Conversation," runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Family Life Center, 1250 Hughes Lane. Preregistration is encouraged by Tuesday, Oct. 10, to ensure enough food and materials. Register by calling Dickinson at 405-623-8037.

Attendees from across Eastern Oregon are welcome.

The forum

Dr. Abhilash Desai, a geriatric psychiatrist, will be the keynote speaker. He is the dementia education director at Saint Alphonsus Memory Center in Boise.

After his talk, and a light lunch, attendees can choose one of four breakout sessions:

Mindfully making and communicating a dementia diagnosis.Promoting empathy: A dementia simulation.Five little known secrets to making a home more dementia friendly.The trademarked program A Positive Approach to Care, presented by Dickinson and Linda Hudson who were trained in this program developed by Teepa Snow.

The Oct. 19 forum is funded, in part, by a grant from the Roundhouse Foundation that paid for Dickinson and Hudson to take the training for A Positive Approach to Care. They plan to offer trainings in other counties across Eastern Oregon, in addition to the session at the forum.

"They completed the training over the summer, which was a huge commitment of time and energy," Mastel-Smith said.

The Roundhouse grant paid for simulation kits, a computer and projector, as well. The forum is also supported by the Buerkel-Zoellner Foundation, OTEC Foundation, Crossroads Carnegie Art Center and Karma Driven Designs.

Also, Mastel-Smith said Sorbenots is supplying beverages and lunch is supported by Safeway, Albertsons and Subway.

Additional events

Two related events are planned for Oct. 18.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a demonstration on "Creating a dementia-friendly home on a budget" will be held at Thatcher's Ace Hardware, 2200 Resort St. in Baker City.

Then, 4-6 pm., Tracy Cram Perkins, author of "Dementia Home Care," will have a book signing at Betty's Books, 1813 Main St. in Baker City.

Art for all

Dementia-Friendly Baker County has partnered with Crossroads Carnegie Art Center to offer art opportunities for everyone, and the artwork will be on display at the forum. This project is funded by the Buerkel-Zoellner Foundation.

The next session is Thursday, Oct. 3, starting at 1:30 p.m. at Community Connection, 2810 Cedar St. Activities include painting, flower mandalas and making masks.

Monthly meetings and support groups

The group offers education and connection meetings once a month at Community Connection. Topics vary each time, and are presented by local experts. For updates, visit the Dementia Friendly Baker County page on Facebook.

Also, a support group for care partners meets twice a month.

"We have six to eight people come pretty consistently," Mastel-Smith said.

She said they can also offer sessions with the simulation kits to help community members, such as grocery store clerks, better understand the effects of dementia.

"Hopefully this gives us empathy for what the person is going through," Mastel-Smith said.

"To keep people in the community," " Dickinson added, "you have to know what's going on with them, and how you can assist them."