Anglicare helps Redlands become a dementia-friendly community.
Article originally published by Redlands City Bulletin.
With the number of people living with dementia increasing by nearly 250 people every day across the country, Anglicare Southern Queensland wants Redlands to become a dementia-friendly community.
The organisation is holding a meeting on Thursday, August 10 to raise awareness about dementia and encourage support for the concept.
Guest speakers at the meeting include young people with dementia and their carers, experts and dementia educators.
Anglicare’s Una Sandeman said a dementia-friendly community was a place where people with dementia and their families and carers were understood, supported and able to actively function.
“To achieve this, people with dementia, their families and carers must be involved from the outset,” she said.
“But those living in the community must also be well informed to help reduce the stigmas and myths surrounding dementia and to promote respect and empathy.”
Ms Sandeman said practical support services and improvements to a city that were designed to help people with dementia would also benefit other vulnerable people.
“A community recognised as dementia-friendly indicates to locals, new residents and visitors that it is a safe and welcoming place in which to connect with others and do business.”
The information session will be held on Thursday, August 10 from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
It will be at the Capalaba Place Community Hall at 14 Noeleen Street, Capalaba.
Confirm your attendance by calling Una Sandeman by Monday, August 7 on 1300 610 610.
Statistics from Alzheimer’s Australia
- More than 413,106 Australians living with dementia
- Of those 55 per cent (228,238) are female and 45 per cent (184,868) are male
- By 2025 the number of people with dementia is expected to increase to 536,164
- Without a medical breakthrough, the number of people with dementia is expected to reach 1,100,890 by 2056
- Number of new cases to increase to 318 people per day by 2025 and over 650 people per day by 2056
- An estimated 25,938 people have younger onset dementia, expected to rise to 29,375 by 2025 and 42,252 by 2056
