A program in the Charlottesville area has picked up honors for its dementia care program.

Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) received an aging innovations award for its dementia care coordination program at a conference over the weekend of July 28.

The program works to find a best practice for people living with dementia in the Charlottesville area, since everyone is affected differently.

JABA was one of 45 local aging programs to be honored by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

George Worthington, JABA’s manager of community resources, says the award means a lot to its members.

“As the local area agency on aging, working with our major local hospital is a fantastic opportunity,” says Worthington. “It’s been a great learning experience for us to be able to learn more about dementia and help devise programs that can help support other folks with the disease.”

Although the grant-supported program is coming to an end, the memory and aging care clinic at the University of Virginia will offer a similar program starting on September 4.

Jefferson Area Board for Aging received $500 as one of the top four award winners. It plans to use the prize money to help support some of its current dementia programs.

Story reported by Lottye Lockhart.