Published on Friday, 16 August 2019 at 4:30:52 PM
The Shire of Denmark has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Dementia Australia to develop a more dementia-friendly community.
The Shire of Denmark is one of 20 organisations across Australia that has received a grant to help deliver local, tailored and change appropriate initiatives to their communities.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said the grants have the capacity to significantly and positively impact people living with dementia, their families and carers.
“There are an estimated 447,000 Australians living with dementia today, with an estimated 70 per cent of people living in the community, in their own homes,” Ms McCabe said.
“As the prevalence of dementia rises, so too does the need for more dementia-friendly communities across Australia.
“One of the biggest issues people face following a diagnosis of dementia is social isolation, as friends, family and their community may struggle to understand how to best support and continue to include people living with this progressive and debilitating condition.
“The way we respond, communicate and interact with a person with dementia has an enormous impact on their day-to-day life and we can all do more to make sure people living with dementia remain included and accepted in their own community.”
In Denmark the focus of the project will be on participatory community engagement to assist in the development of dementia friendly initiatives to help increase local understanding of dementia and to establish a local Dementia Alliance Group.
Shire of Denmark CEO Bill Parker said: “People living with dementia, their families, carers and any other interested persons are invited to participate in our community conversations and provide input into the development of strategies that will focus on raising community awareness.
“Through a community engagement process this project aims to develop strategies that are designed in partnership with the community, providing an exciting opportunity for innovative outcomes.”
For further information or to participate in our community conversations please contact Community Development Officer Claudia Simpson on 9848 0300 or email cdo@denmark.wa.gov.au. Our first Community Conversation will be held at the Shire Reception Room on Friday 6 September.
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