The beautiful, sleepy beachside town of Kiama, 120 kilometres south of Sydney (pictured), was selected to be a prototype location for the concept by peak body Dementia Australia.
So, what exactly does ‘dementia-friendly’ mean? The difference is in the details.
At the local Stone Wall café, for example, staff have been trained to speak slowly, give customers extra time and not ask them too many questions. And a local seniors exercise group has extra staff on hand to assist any participants with moderate levels of dementia by giving them more one-on-one attention.
Importantly, the town also prioritises ‘community education’, helping people in the area to understand how dementia impacts older people’s brains and sensory processing, and how their immediate environment – which expert say can be “a form of restraint” – could be simplified to reduce any distress or confusion.
The ‘dementia-friendly’ concept is all about inclusion – ensuring that our older Mums and Dads with dementia aren’t segregated, but able to live as comfortably and safely as possible within the community.
Currently, there are around 20 designated ‘dementia-friendly communities’ around Australia, and new aged care building developments are increasingly using designs that support dementia residents.
We think it’s a wonderful concept, and hope our system continues to trial ideas that will increase the quality of life for all Australians with dementia.
Find out more about Kiama’s ‘dementia-friendly’ approach in this story by SBS.
