Northern Beaches Dementia-Friendly Community Project

 

“A dementia-friendly community is a place where people living with dementia are supported to live a high quality of life with meaning, purpose and value.”

The dementia-friendly project has been initiated to work towards becoming a dementia-friendly community in the Northern Beaches. Your Side will be working in collaboration with the Northern Beaches Council, advocacy groups, community organisations, service providers and local community members to develop an action plan to achieve this goal. Please see the Northern Beaches Council Website for more information about the project.

It is estimated that almost 8,000 people in the Northern Beaches live with dementia. In the area it is expected to grow by 38% by 2050 and almost 150% in Pittwater alone. It is imperative that we act now, to develop communities that are safe and supportive for people living with dementia.

The activities for the project include the following:

Development of the Northern Beaches Dementia Alliance and Advisory Groups

An Alliance of 13 members has been selected to govern the project action plan and facilitate meetings with the working party. Members of the alliance have experience and expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Aged or dementia care experience at a senior level
  – Governance and financial management expertise
  – Experience working with diverse population groups including CALD groups, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations and the LGBTI community.
  – Lived experience of dementia
  – Community engagement and project management

The Advisory group is open to people living with dementia and their carers. This Advisory group will consult with the Alliance to inform the project activities.

Expression of interest to join the Dementia Advisory Group can be found here

Development of the Northern Beaches Dementia-Friendly Community Project Working Party

A larger community group has also been established. The Working Party is made up of aged care service providers, local businesses, community services, healthcare professionals, community members, people living with dementia and their carers. This group will meet bi-monthly with the Alliance and Advisory groups to determine the practical steps for implementing the project action plan. Members of the working party will have the opportunity to contribute local knowledge and professional expertise to guide the Alliance. The working party will require members to participate in volunteer roles to facilitate events.

Running an open community forum

The forum will be open to all members of the Northern Beaches Community and will discuss the goals and objectives of the project.

Facilitating dementia-friendly activities

Activities include community education, inter-generational education and music therapy for people living with dementia.

For more information, please contact:

Ilsa Bird
Northern Beaches Dementia-Friendly Communities Project Manager
ilsab@yourside.org.au

Listen to the Northern Beaches Radio Interview about the project