MOVES to develop Australia’s first dementia-friendly community are now underway following the inaugural meeting of the Dementia Friendly Steering Committee in Port Macquarie last week.
Chaired by Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams and made up of representatives from local service clubs, the council, emergency services, local health district and Alzheimer’s Australia (NSW), the committee met to formalise a process to work towards developing a dementia-friendly community.
“We see ourselves as the facilitators of change went it comes to promoting a better understanding of people living with dementia in a modern society like ours,” Ms Williams said.
“As a dementia-friendly community we all need to be aware of and understand more about dementia, encourage people with dementia and their carers to not only seek help and support, but to feel included in the community.
“This is such an important issue, particularly for our area which by 2050 will see a predicted increase of 350 per cent in the prevalence of dementia. That is the second highest rate in NSW behind the Tweed.
“One of the priorities of the steering committee is to provide input into the development of the dementia-friendly community guide which will document the process and example projects that help to create a more dementia-friendly community.
“The guide can then be used locally and more broadly across NSW.
“A research project officer is undertaking the work to develop the guide, which is expected to be introduced in the second half of next year.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the Hastings to put its stamp on the map nationally with this ground-breaking work being undertaken.”
