Bringing people living with dementia back into the conversation

Published on 18 September 2019

Council is calling on residents throughout our municipality to change how we respond and behave around people with dementia as part of Dementia Action Week 2019, which runs through until this Sunday 22 September.

The theme for this year is Dementia doesn’t discriminate. Do you?

Councillor for Community Wellbeing and Services Min Poole said that while dementia doesn’t discriminate in terms of who is impacted, the community can choose not to be discriminatory in the way people interact with individuals who are living with this chronic condition.

“Unfortunately, we sometimes see people unintentionally speaking to the carer of a person living with dementia rather than including them in the conversation, which is just one example of how we can change our thinking,” she said.

“It’s around people making assumptions about a person’s capacity to contribute to a conversation, drive, cook or continue to work.

“According to Dementia Australia, there are also situations where friends and family may stop including a person living with dementia in their social occasions and other events – not on purpose, but just because they simply don’t know how to include them.”

Cr Poole said Dementia Action Week was aimed at raising awareness about these issues.

She said Council has shown its support in a visible way this week by lighting up a tree at the entrance to the Mildura Arts Centre, using a shade of teal in keeping with the national event’s colours. The tree will remain lit up until this Sunday, 22 September.

Council is also asking residents to fill out a quick survey to help provide Dementia Australia with a better understanding of how discrimination for people living with dementia occurs, within what context and what is needed to change this behaviour.

The survey can be found at https://reflectionsresearch.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aavTLlmC0TUqw29

For more information contact Dementia Australia Dementia Advisor Bertilla Campbell on (03) 5021 2044.

Media enquiries  Ben Piscioneri p) (03) 5018 8689  e) [email protected]