DEMENTIA is an illness close to many in Port Macquarie and residents are being urged to better educate themselves on the condition.
Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams said tackling dementia in our community was one of her highest priorities and urged the community to become “dementia friendly”.
Mrs Williams recently undertook a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association study tour to investigate strategies utilised in the United Kingdom to address the challenges facing all levels of government as a result of the increasing prevalence of dementia in the community.
“As a consequence of the aging population on the Mid North Coast there is a parallel increase in the proportion of the population who will experience age-related illnesses and diseases,” she said.
“In particular, dementia prevalence rates will increase significantly and the occurrence in the electorate of Port Macquarie will be particularly sizeable.
“In fact, of all the 93 electorates in New South Wales, Port Macquarie currently has the second highest prevalence of dementia and this is set to increase by 350 per cent by 2050.”
During her overseas trip, Mrs Williams visited towns and cities to learn more about the programs that had been implemented to make their communities dementia-friendly, including Torquay, Bristol, Hampshire, Warwick, York and Killaloe.
Mrs Williams also took the opportunity to meet with key representatives of Alzheimer’s Society UK and the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland. As part of the study tour she also visited the Scottish Parliament and the Houses of the Oireachtas (Ireland).
This week is Dementia Awareness Week and Mrs Williams will be welcoming the new Minister for Aging and Minister for Disabilities John Ajaka for his first visit to the electorate tomorrow.
Mrs Williams is also the co-convenor of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Dementia.
* Registrations are now open for this year’s Memory Walk, with proceeds going to Alzheimers NSW. The Port Macquarie event is on Sunday 29 September at Town Green. For more information go to www.memorywalk.com.au/portmacquarie
