In an effort to make the City of Melville more dementia-friendly for the growing number of residents now living with the disease, the community are being encouraged to get involved during Dementia Awareness Month throughout September.
The City of Melville has the second highest number of people living with dementia compared to all other West Australian local government areas according to the Access Economics Report ‘Projections of dementia prevalence and incidence in WA: 2010-2050’.
City of Melville Mayor Russel Aubrey said Dementia was one of the biggest health challenges facing the community, with data showing it to be the second leading cause of death in Australia.
“It is vital that we understand Dementia and what it is like for those living with the disease and their family members, so that as individuals and as a wider community we can provide the support needed for the individual’s wellbeing.
“The City of Melville has been a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) global network of Age-Friendly Cities since 2010, and has been developing initiatives and partnerships to provide the appropriate support and resources to make Melville an accessible, age and dementia-friendly place to live.”
The development of Melville’s Age-Friendly Accessible Businesses network (MAFAB) is an initiative developed by the City to encourage and teach local businesses how to make their premises and services more age-friendly and accessible. The City partnered with Garden City Shopping Centre, Booragoon, to provide MAFAB training to shopping centre staff, with the latest network members – Apple – currently undergoing training in September to raise staff awareness about people living with dementia.
Art Tours specifically run for people with dementia and their carers are available at the Heathcote Cultural Precinct, with the tours led by volunteers who are dementia trained through Attitudinal Healing and the Art Gallery of WA with support by Alzheimers WA.
