IF you know someone with dementia, don’t walk away from them.
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That was the key message as Kiama hosted a dementia-friendly community forum last week, attended by more than 100 people.
Earlier this year, in an Australian first, Kiama was named as the pilot site for a project to create dementia-friendly communities.
The project partners are the University of Wollongong’s Global Challenges Program, Alzheimer’s Australia and Kiama Council.
A free dementia-friendly concepts and communities forum took place on Tuesday at Kiama Anglican Church.
September also marks Dementia Awareness Month.
In parts of the UK, people would rather bite their own feet off than acknowledge another human being, and that’s a recipe for disaster (regarding) dementia-friendly communities.
- Steve Milton
The forum and workshop was presented by Steve Milton, one of three directors of Innovations in Dementia, a not-for-profit community interest company in the UK.
Innovations in Dementia work with people with dementia, partner organisations and professionals to develop and test projects that enhance the lives of people with dementia.
Mr Milton said there were many simple measures to make communities better places for people with dementia.
He believed the UK can learn from communities such as Kiama.
According to Alzheimer’s Australia, the Kiama electorate has an estimated 1347 people with dementia, with that number expected to reach 3398 by 2050.
“In parts of the UK, people would rather bite their own feet off than acknowledge another human being, and that’s a recipe for disaster (regarding) dementia-friendly communities,’’ he said.
‘‘I don’t know Kiama that well, but I think the fact that it’s a small community where people know each other is a huge advantage.
‘‘Because the thing that really determines whether a community is dementia-friendly or not, is people.
‘‘It’s not the environment or signposting; it’s how people relate to each other.
‘‘You speak to each other, and if people know each other they’re able to offer a bit more support.
‘‘‘Oh, here comes Steve, he’s having a bit of a struggle to read that road sign, I’ll go give him a hand’.’’
Mr Milton said there was another key component.
‘‘The other thing about raising awareness is to try and create a situation where people don’t get freaked out with dementia.
‘‘What happens is, someone gets a diagnosis, and immediately, most of their mates disappear.
‘‘They say ‘oh, he’s got dementia; he won’t be able to talk or understand us’.
‘‘Obviously that’s quite depressing.
‘‘Then they’ll tend to stay indoors, won’t go out and people go into a real spiral. ‘‘They end up quite a lot worse than they need to be, and usually in care homes years earlier than they need to simply because people walk away.
‘‘If you know someone with dementia, give them a fair go.
‘‘Don’t walk away from them.”
Council’s manager community and cultural development Nick Guggisberg said such events were part of an ongoing process.
‘‘The perception in the community is we are already dementia-friendly, but there is more we can do,’’ he said.
‘‘There is a stigma we need to challenge.’’