Award-winning writer, speaker, documentary producer and international dementia expert Michael Verde will return to the City of Melville to present two community information sessions to support people living with dementia and their loved ones.
After his sell-out shows in the City of Melville in 2017 and 2019, Mr Verde will return on Monday, 6 November to present community information session Dementia Without Loneliness and a special film screening of documentary Love is Listening: Dementia Without Loneliness.
The information session and film screening forms part of dementia-specific initiatives to support older residents, carers and families to live well with dementia in the community as part of the City of Melville’s Age-Friendly Melville Plan 2022-2026.
The City of Melville has been recorded as having the second-highest rate of dementia in WA. In 2020, 1,442 individuals living with dementia were recorded in Melville, projected to more than triple to 4,814 by 2050 (
Deloitte Access Economics).
Dementia Without Loneliness Presentation Monday, 6 November | 10.00am to 11.30am
City of Melville Civic Centre, 10 Almondbury Road, Booragoon 6154
FREE, bookings essential. To register, visit
www.melvillecity.com.au/dementia-without-loneliness Love is Listening: Dementia Without Loneliness Film Screening with Q&A Monday, 6 November | 6.00pm to 8.30pm
City of Melville Civic Centre, 10 Almondbury Road, Booragoon 6154
$10.
To register, visit
www.melvillecity.com.au/love-is-listening The City of Melville in partnership with Westfield Booragoon also facilitates WA’s first Memory Cafe, a social gathering for people with dementia and their carers, who meet on the last Tuesday of every month at Birue Café Westfield Booragoon from 10.00am to 11.00am.
City of Melville Mayor Katy Mair said the City was committed to supporting a community where all people belong, are included and can enjoy equal opportunity in all areas of life.
“Our city has the second-highest number of people living with dementia in Western Australia, and we have a number of programs and initiatives to support people living with dementia and their loved ones, including Memory Café, the Melville Age Friendly Accessible Business Network and dementia-awareness training for staff.
“We believe that by recognising and promoting our community’s diversity and supporting everyone to participate and be included, we can contribute to a richer community life and social justice.”
Comments attributed to City of Melville Community Development Officer Deena Lazzari:
City of Melville Community Development Officer Deena Lazzari said the community information session and documentary would help show that everyone has the capacity to create connections with people living with dementia.
“Although many of us know someone living with dementia, many still struggle to connect with loved ones living with this condition,” Ms Lazzari said.
“Dementia Without Loneliness shows that the emotional isolation individuals living with dementia often experience is due to feelings of loneliness and disconnection, and demonstrates how we can reconnect and provide a sense of belonging that breaks down the experience of emotional isolation.”
Statistics (
Dementia Australia)
Dementia is the second leading cause of death of all Australians.
Dementia is the leading cause of death of women in Australia, and the second leading cause of death of all Australians. There is no cure.
In 2023, it is estimated that more than 1.5 million people in Australia are involved in the care of someone living with dementia. 2 in 3 people with dementia are thought to be living in the community.