Summit Calls for Increased Public Awareness of Dementia

By Petrina Smith
Wednesday, 04 March, 2015

A summit organised by Alzheimer's Australia has called for greater community awareness of dementia programs to reduce the fear, stigma and social isolation associated with the disease.

Alzheimer’s Australia National President Graeme Samuel AC said it was critical to hear from those directly impacted about what is working and what is not.

“Over the past two days we have heard from people who are at the coalface of navigating the support and services available for those living with dementia,” Mr Samuel said.

“The overriding message is that the system is complex and difficult to navigate and there is still a huge lack of awareness about dementia and understanding of its impacts across the community that really can make an already confronting and confusing situation more difficult,” Mr Samuel said.

“But the good news is there are many steps that we as a nation can take to ensure that those who have received a diagnosis of dementia are provided with better support.

“The UK is leading the way in awareness with its Dementia Friends program, which has already had a major impact with more than 1 million people signing up to better support people in their community living with dementia. Alzheimer’s Australia is committed to rolling out a similar program in Australia with international linkages to these programs in the UK, Canada and Japan and will be seeking Government support.

“I am very hopeful that all the recommendations that have come out of this summit will provide a good platform for state and federal policy makers to make positive changes for those who need it the most.”

Summit delegate Anne Pietsch, was diagnosed three years ago with dementia. " I am living with dementia." It has been really heartening to know that we are being included in the conversations about the decisions that will be made that will directly impact us," Ms Pietsch said. "I am proud to have played a role in bringing the voices of people with dementia and their family carers being heard. I" am hopeful that the Communique presented to parliamentarians today will result in greater awareness and understanding about dementia.”

Recommendations from the summit include improved dementia care training for healthcare workers, the establishment of comprehensive dementia-specific community support services and including risk reduction strategies and programs into local community-based health promotion activities.

A full copy of the recommendations can be found at https://fightdementia.org.au/National-Consumer-Summit-2015-Communique.