Living Well with Dementia in Melville
A new report, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), shows dementia has now overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death among Australian women. Closer to home, the Access Economics Report, “Projections of dementia prevalence and incidence in WA: 2010–2050”, shows that the City of Melville has the highest number of people living with dementia, compared to other local government areas within 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 to create a place where people living with dementia are supported and are able to participate in everyday life of the local community.
LoveFest Perth 2018
LoveFest Perth 2018 was hosted by the City of Melville and supported with a Community Partnership Funding Grant.
LoveFest is an initiative of the Museum of Love, which was established in 2017 to develop, collect, preserve and display items celebrating the importance of love in the lives of people living with dementia.
LoveFest privileged the voices of people with dementia and their families through narrative and art based approaches to engage local community members and service providers in creating an age and dementia-friendly community and services. LoveFest activities included:
- Small Acts of Love: presentations by people with dementia, their family and friends exploring the importance and nature of love - the challenges and response strategies.
- The Kiss: portraits of local people living with dementia kissing a person they love
- Letters of Love & Dementia: writing letters to people with dementia
- The Mirror: photographs of people with dementia living their lives
- Dance: a workshop exploring the importance of belonging
- Bowery: a collection of information about great local services for people with dementia and their families and friends.
See the resource attached for an outline of the above.
Thanks and acknowledgement for the inaugural LoveFest in May 2018 which was bought to Perth by GLBTI Rights in Ageing Inc (GRAI) and with the support of the City of Melville and Alzheimer's WA as well as The Care Side, Hall and Prior Health and Aged Care Group, Chorus, SouthCare, Garden City Shopping Centre, Heart to Heart Connections, Consultivation and Lisa White, The Social Photographer.
A new report, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), shows dementia has now overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death among Australian women. Closer to home, the Access Economics Report, “Projections of dementia prevalence and incidence in WA: 2010–2050”, shows that the City of Melville has the highest number of people living with dementia, compared to other local government areas within WA.
You Are Not Alone
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 to create a place where people living with dementia are supported and are able to participate in everyday life of the local community.
Heathcote Art Tours (H.A.T)
This innovative program, run from Heathcote Museum & Gallery, is designed for elderly people and people living with Dementia/Alzheimer's and their careers or partners. Session details listed below:
Dates:
- Wednesday, 6th March
- Wednesday, 29th May
- Wednesday, 26th June
- Wednesday, 25th September
- Wednesday, 13th November
- Wednesday, 11th December
Time: 10.00am to 11.30am
Venue: Heathcote Museum and Gallery, 58 Duncraig Road, Applecross
Each session is followed by refreshments at the Gallery. Numbers are limited and you will need to enrol for this program. Donations are always welcome.
For more information, please contact Trish Halvorsen on 9364 1507 or trish@halvo.net. This program is jointly sponsored between Attitudinal Healing WA and the City of Melville.
Michael Verde
Michael Verde, internationally renowned speaker and educator on living well with dementia, visited the City in 2015 and 2017 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-friendly Communities
A diagnosis of dementia does not mean it is not possible to live well. Many people with dementia continue to drive, socialise and hold down satisfying jobs. Even as dementia progresses, people can lead active, healthy lives, carry on with their hobbies and enjoy loving friendships and relationships. Someone with dementia may forget an appointment or tell you the same joke twice, but their condition does not stop them doing the things that matter the most. It is easier for someone to live well with dementia if the people they come into contact with respond in a positive and supportive way. This is why having dementia-friendly communities is so important.
This site will continue to be developed with resources, information and links that may be useful for people living with dementia. Additionally, some local members of the Melville Community who live with dementia, and their care partners, have offered to add their stories to this site via video interviews. Monitor this site for additional information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to comment or provide feedback.
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.
Art & Soul
Matthew O'Keeffe on clarinet and Wyana O'Keeffe on vibraphone. Matt and Wyana are a married couple who enjoy making beautiful music together.
Garden City Memory Café
Inspired by Ardross couple Keith and Wendy Glance, the Memory Café is Perth's first monthly coffee date specifically for people living with dementia.
Hosted by Coffea Fine Espresso in Garden City Shopping Centre, Memory Café.
Dates:
- 28th January
- 25th February
- 31st March
- 28th April
- 26th May
- 30th June
- 28th July
- 25th August
- 29th September
- 27th October
- 24th November
Time: 9.30am to 11.00am
It aims to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where people living with dementia, and their carers, can meet and socialise. The Memory Café is a partnership between the City of Melville, Garden City AMP and Alzheimer's WA and is supported by volunteers from Attitudinal Healing WA.