Living Well with Dementia in Melville
Did you know that Melville has the second highest number of people living with dementia compared to other local governments in WA?
The City of Melville is committed to supporting our community to live well with dementia, as well as supporting measures to prevent its onset. As part of this commitment, the City aligns its Age-friendly Melville Plan with the Dementia-friendly Communities framework, as outlined by Alzheimer’s WA (AWA), and works in close partnership with AWA and Dementia Australia to create a place where people living with dementia are supported and are able to participate in everyday life of the local community.
Memory Café
People living with dementia and their carers are welcome to come along to the monthly Memory Café to meet others and enjoy a friendly cuppa.
Venue: Birue Cafe, Westfield Booragoon (near Coles).
Date: Held the last Tuesday of each month.
Time: 10.00am to 11.00am
Cost: Free to attend, food and beverages at own cost
Bookings: No need to book, just come along and enjoy.
A partnership between the City of Melville, Westfield Booragoon and Birue Cafe
Music and Memories
People living with dementia and their carers are welcome to come along to enjoy sharing music, movement, memories and morning tea.
Venue: Blue Gum Community Centre, 35 Moolyeen Road, Brentwood
When: Every second and fourth Thursday of the month
Time: 10am-11.30am
Bookings: 9364 0147 or 9364 0148
How to help people living with dementia lead as full and independent a life as possible
Dementia affects behaviour, thinking, and the ability to perform everyday tasks.
With funding received from the Department of Communities, the City worked with Melville Theatre Company and Mind The Change Inc. to produce three videos that each depicts a scenario of a person living with dementia out in the community.
Watch the videos to gain a greater understanding of dementia, and find out what community members and businesses can do to help people living with dementia lead as full and independent a life as possible.
Dementia can affect mood and behaviour. Watch this short video to find out how to effectively communicate with people living with dementia.
Dementia can affect decision making. Watch this short video to find out how to effectively communicate and respond to people living with dementia.
Dementia can affect problem solving skills. Watch this short video to find out what can be done to assist people living with dementia.
Become a Dementia Friend
By becoming a Dementia Friend you will build an understanding of:
- what dementia is
- the challenges faced by people living with dementia
- what a dementia-friendly community means to people living with dementia
- how to support people living with dementia to stay connected.
For more information on how to become a Dementia Friend, please Read Dementia Australia's Blog on Communicating.
Small actions you can take when caring for a person living with dementia
Below are a few small but significant actions you can take to help people living with dementia to live as well as possible. Follow each link for more information and to watch a short video that supports each action.
- Home Life – Make home life easier for me with a few smart changes
People living with dementia often have different sensory perceptions, and their immediate environment can have a large impact on their wellbeing and quality of life.
Click here for more information
Watch a short home improvement video.
- Space – Give me a little space to do things for myself
It can be easy to assume that people living with dementia need help with everything, but that simply is not the case. People living with dementia should be given the space to do things on their own in order to retain independence and self-worth.
Click here for more information
- Listen – Listen to me, don’t always try to solve my problems
Truly listening and giving your full attention to a person living with dementia can sometimes be a challenge. It is important to practice good listening skills and pay attention to what is being communicated. This can also support a person living with dementia to feel socially included.
Click here for more information
Watch a short video about the importance of listening.
- Words – To communicate better – be patient and caring
It is important to be patient when communicating with people living with dementia, and to show empathy and care. Even as a person living with dementia’s communication skills deteriorate, they still retain their emotions and ability to pick up on feelings and moods from your body language.
Click here for more information
Watch a short video here
- Remind me – Remind me with clever technology
Clever technology can support people to live better with dementia. Devices can act as memory prompts, help to locate important items, and keep track of medications.
Click here for more information
Watch a short video here
- Initiative – Help me plan my own social life
Dementia doesn’t have to keep your loved one from being socially active. If they want to make their own plan, you can support them. Download Dementia Australia’s social planner and Zoom tips for people living with dementia.
Click here for more information
Watch a short video here
- Health – Encourage me to stay active and healthy
Staying physically healthy is important for people living with dementia. Exercise, a healthy diet and regular check-ups can all help people with dementia to live better.
Click here for more information
For more information about dementia please visit Dementia Australia or Alzheimers WA
Michael Verde
Michael Verde, internationally renowned speaker and educator on living well with dementia, has visited the city regularly since 2015 in partnership with Alzheimer’s WA and Attitudinal Healing WA. Feedback described his presentations as inspiring and life changing.
Michael believes that outside of a cure, the most vital need for people living with dementia and their loved ones is real emotional connection. He talked of the social and emotional isolation experienced by people living with dementia and provided practical skills for families, friends and carers to help break down the barriers caused by the disease.
Dementia Australia
Dementia Australia represents the 459,000 Australians living with dementia and the almost 1.6 million Australians involved in their care. For more information visit Dementia Australia.
Dementia-friendly communities
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.
Dementia Australia has developed resources to assist all Australians to get a better understanding of what they can do to contribute to a dementia-friendly nation.
For more information visit www.dementiafriendly.org.au.
Free phone and email support service
The National Dementia Helpline is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday excluding public holidays. A message service is available so if you call outside operating hours, we’ll call you back the next working day. More information.
Alzheimer's WA
If you require further information about living with dementia, or if you have concerns about a family member or friend, please contact Alzheimer's WA.
As the dementia experts, Alzheimer's WA works with those living with dementia, and the organisations that care and support them, to have the greatest beneficial impact on their dementia journey. Their client services, advocacy work, training, and consultancy programs are based on a philosophy of understanding the lived experience of dementia. We are guided by people living with dementia and our approach views dementia as a holistic experience for the person rather than just a biological illness.
To find out more visit Alzheimer's WA or call 1300 667 788.
Sonder
"The realisation that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own".
Listen to local residents Keith and Wendy Glance talk about the things that made a positive impact on their lives while living with dementia.
Andy and Jackie
Jackie and Andy Creighan live in Melville. Andy, who lives with Younger on Set Alzheimer's, and his wife, Jackie, both share how they live their life well.
Tom Harmon
A local Kardinya resident who provides insight into living well with dementia, and how every member in the community can contribute to the quality of life for those individuals living with this and other disabilities.
Trish Halvorsen
Trish is a volunteer with Attitudinal Healing WA and contributes to the lives of people living with dementia here in Melville.