Attend annual Illawarra Public Dementia Forum this Dementia Action Week

Dementia Action Week starts today, September 18, and this year’s theme is ‘Act Now for a Dementia-Friendly Future’.

The theme came about after research by national body Dementia Australia showed 81 per cent of those with a loved one living with dementia felt that people in shops, cafes and restaurants treated people with dementia differently. The organisation is calling on everyone to act to make our communities more dementia-friendly.

The annual awareness week includes World Alzheimer’s Day on Thursday, September 21.

Find Dementia Australia's top tips for creating a dementia-friendly future here.

At a local level, here are 3 more things you can do:

1. Attend the Annual Illawarra Public Dementia Forum.

The free event will be on from 10am-3pm at the Fraternity Club on Wednesday, September 20. Speakers will include: Maree McCabe AM, CEO Dementia Australia; Dr Clair Langford, an Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District geriatrician; the University of Wollongong's Professor Lezanne Ooi; and Dr Frances Healey, director of dementia data awareness and community engagement at the Department of Health and Aged Care. There will also be a panel featuring carers of people living with dementia from the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions. Find more event info here, register here or call 0417 468 977.

2. Discover Thirroul's Memory Lane Cafe

The social event featuring tea, coffee and conversation is one of the few programs for both people living with dementia and their care partners. It has been held every six weeks at Thirroul Community Centre since launching there in mid-2022.

When the Flame first reported on the cafe in March, Barbra Williams, general manager service operations at Dementia Australia, told us: “The cafes are a really good way to connect with others, but it’s also a great way to connect with Dementia Australia’s staff and to find out more about what services or supports they might be able to receive to help them continue to live well, and help them keep living at home in the community.”

Read more in Welcome to Memory Lane Cafe.

Helensburgh-based not-for-profit Northern Illawarra Neighbour Aid transports clients to the cafe as part of its regular monthly outings. The NINA bus will pick you up and drop you off direct to your home. The catchment area to access NINA services is postcodes 2508 to 2517, more info here.

NINA is currently calling out for volunteers.

3. Get information from a trusted source.

Dementia Australia informs and educates and supports people impacted by dementia. It provides a range of services for the more than 400,000 Australians living with dementia, and the more than 1.5 million people involved in their care.

Demand for its services service is bound to grow.

“In 2023, there are currently approximately 487,500 Australians living with dementia,” Barbra said.

“And without a medical breakthrough, this number is expected to increase to 1.1 million by 2058. It’s the leading cause of death for female Australians. And it’s the second leading cause of death for Australians overall.”

Dementia Australia offers a free Dementia Kit; helpline webchat and callback from National Dementia Helpline

Contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 (an interpreter service is available) or visit dementia.org.au