This week marks Dementia Action Week, an annual event which seeks to reduce discrimination of people living with dementia. We spoke to the manager of The Cottage, Eric Scott, about some of the challenges his clients have faced this year.
Sadly, COVID-19 has taken away some of Eric’s clients’ most valuable social contacts.
“SECC’s Dementia Social Support Group at The Cottage in Rushcutters Bay had to be suspended at the end of June,” he said.
“We are yet to hear of a likely date for re-opening.”
The Cottage Dementia Day Centre Manager Eric Scott.
Eric said social interaction is a vital part of supporting people living with dementia. It also combats isolation and emotional decline.
“Being able to meet up with others to chat, sing, play games, walk, and generally share enjoyable time together is so important,” he said.
With the loss of this group, staff at The Cottage staff have engaged several strategies to support the regular participants.
“All families are contacted by phone to see how things are going, and to give support to the partner, son or daughter who is the primary carer,” he said.
“We also talk directly to the clients, and several clients are taken out individually for a walk and conversation. This is great for the participants, and also provides some free time for their carer.”
The team have also been holding Zoom sessions, and there has been a very positive response to seeing the familiar faces that they’ve missed for three months.
“We’ve included a quiz to engage everyone and replicate the kind of thing we do when the group meets in real life. We will continue these services and other ideas we have until the group can get back to having face-to-face fun.”
Dementia Action Week is very important in that it promotes the idea that ‘A little support makes a big difference’ with a focus on supporting and celebrating carers of people living with dementia.
Dementia Australia provides information and tips to encourage all Australians to increase their understanding of dementia and learn how they can make a difference to the lives of people around them who are impacted – and to help eliminate discrimination.
This is linked to the idea of dementia-friendly communities which is aimed at building communities in which people living with dementia feel understood, accepted, and included.
A dementia-friendly community is made up of people, groups, businesses and organisations who have taken steps to be more dementia-friendly. If a person living with dementia is to continue an active life in their community, those around them need to be informed, sensitive and supportive. That might be someone next door, the person at the corner shop, someone at the Bowling Club or the pub. Patience, understanding and a friendly word are great. Impatience, rudeness and patronising comments are not.
The way people living with dementia are treated in the community will determine how confident they feel about staying connected. Bad experiences and discrimination can lead to isolation.
If you live in the eastern suburbs and are interested in becoming a Dementia Friend, email us at thecottagecoord@secc.sydney and you will be contacted when the next Dementia Friendly workshop is being held. Anyone in other areas can get information from this page.
The Woollahra Dementia Alliance is a coalition of local businesses, groups, organisations and individuals who meet every two months to work towards progressing a dementia-friendly local community.
When COVID restrictions are eased, the Alliance will be holding a dementia friendly morning tea for people living with dementia and their families. Keep in touch with this and other events on the alliance’s Facebook page.