Dementia Awareness Month

September is Dementia Awareness Month and Council has embarked on a project focusing on fostering a Dementia Friendly Community. Dementia is quickly emerging as one of the most critical global public health challenges and it is no different in our district with an aging population becoming a greater percentage of our demographic. Currently no cure for Dementia and with the population trend of people living longer, we will likely see more people living in the community with this illness being cared for at home by family and carers. .

Council is gathering information about what we currently do to make life a bit easier for people living with dementia in the community and their carers, what we can do better and what gaps there are that we can raise with State and Commonwealth service providers

What we are doing right now is talking to people living in the community who have dementia, their family and carers.

If you or someone you know might be interested in talking to us please feel welcome to contact Council and speak with Myles Somers and andrew Haigh.

Some of the ideas that may form part of Council's Action Plan towards helping us to have a Dementia friendly Community include:

Information on Dementia in available in libraries Creating more awareness in the community about how people engage / talk to someone with dementia. Encouraging Dementia friendly businesses with staff having undertaken awareness programs on assisting a customer with dementia or similar cognitive illness (i.e. Bunnings, Aldi, Woolworths, Coles, Foodland , Chemists etc). Incorporating Council building design elements into new work or planned retro fit outs. For example design of steps associated with council buildings to make each step clearly marked (one effect dementia can have is on depth perception. This means that a simple task of walking up or down steps ay become a difficult challenge). Develop a list of places to go that are safe and therapeutic for people living with Dementia. Assist in the development of support groups for carers of people with young onset dementia and aged onset dementia and also people in the community living with Dementia.

This project will touch many areas of Council including buildings, parks, libraries, customer service and community development and Council is keen to hear from anyone who has a story to share or wants to help.

The most imortant message that Council wants to give people living with Dementia in our community, their families and carers, is that you are not alone and we care. 

For more information ofn Demential or activities as part of Dementia Awareness month please go to the Alzheimer's Australia (SA) website.