Laying the foundations for a dementia-friendly Australia

A British dementia expert has arrived in Australia to discuss how to make our communities more accessible to people living with dementia.

The UK Innovations in Dementia co-director Rachael Litherland kick-started the Dementia-Friendly Communities - Involving People with Dementia tour in Brisbane on Monday, sharing experiences from her role developing the Living with Dementia program for the UK Alzheimer’s Society and her current work promoting community interest.

Ms Litherland said that a combination of strategic planning and grassroots initiatives is necessary to create a dementia-friendly community.

“In the UK we have a lot of local people doing small things that make a difference.

“One initiative called ‘Walking the Patch’ involves walking around the local leisure centre with a person with dementia to understand their thought process at certain decision points,” she said.

Ms Litherland said minor details like the positioning of signs and colour scheme could change the whole perception and experience of a public space for a person with dementia.

In broader strategic goals, the UK is committed to raising awareness of dementia in the general public, especially people working in public office, such as the police, and public space, like supermarket clerks.

“People with dementia need to know that the person behind the counter can deal with the situation,” she said.

As well as educating the general public, Ms Litherland hopes to empower people who actually have dementia to speak out.

“It’s time to bring the condition out of the shadows and engage people with dementia.”

Ms Litherland said all members of the community are welcome to attend her seminars, but hopes those who have dementia will dominate the audience count.

“It’s about finding out what they want.”

Ms Litherland said now that people with dementia are being diagnosed earlier, they have longer to live in their communities.

“In the UK, two thirds of people with dementia live in the community, not in aged care,” she said.

“When they get diagnosed they see their role disappear but lots of them do want to contribute and carry on playing a pivotal role in society.”

Ms Litherland said memory cafes, choirs, walking groups, volunteering and employment are starting-blocks from which dementia-friendly communities can be built.

But with Australia’s social and geographical landscape so different from the UK’s, Ms Litherland said we will have to invent new and different strategies on how to support those with dementia.

“Discussions have to come from within and will be defined by local figures.”

Ms Litherland said the workshops will give an indication of what a dementia-friendly Australia might look like, but that vision needs to be constantly redefined by the people it concerns.

As generations roll over and culture changes, so too do the needs and desires of people with dementia.

“If you’re going to reach that gold star you need ongoing communication – the next generation of people with dementia are going to be quite different.”

Picture: Dementia expert Rachael Litherland