Dementia-Friendly Community tools and resources
Tips, strategies, support and inspiration to help you build your Dementia-Friendly Community.
- How to talk about dementia
The way we talk and write about dementia makes a difference. Find out how you can use language that respects people living with dementia, their family and friends.
- DownloadMaking it dementia friendly991 kB
A guide to assess a venue for use for people living with dementia and other disabilities.
- DownloadBecoming a dementia-friendly organisation830 kB
As the number of people living with dementia continues to grow, many Australian businesses and organisations are taking positive steps to become dementia-friendly.
- DownloadLet's Talk booklet986 kB
Here are some ways people with dementia say good communication would improve their lives.
- DownloadSupporting People with Dementia at Conferences and Other Events3.8 MB
Because members of Dementia Alliance International (DAI) have a unique perspective on conferences we decided to assemble responses from post-event informal email surveys of the past four years to see how people with dementia and care partners feel about the access, support, and enablement provided at professional meetings of Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and other conferences or events.
- DownloadInclusive choirs for those living with dementia294 kB
The Alchemy Chorus has kindly put together some information regarding their set up and establishment so that other community groups can do the same.
Become a Dementia Friend Today
In these videos, people with dementia explain how small changes can have a big impact on making a community more dementia-friendly.
Transcript
[Beginning of recorded material]
[Title card: Dementia Australia]
[Visual: Elderly lady gets to the bus stop, hails a bus, gets onboard and validates her ticket, her coins drop on the floor, a man helps pick up her coins]
Elderly lady: Thank you.
Bus driver: Your ticket, man?
Man: Oh, sorry.
[Visual: Bus passengers on the bus, bus stops and door opens. Driver waits for someone to disembark, nobody does]
[Visual: A teenager secretly presses the next stop button, bus pulls up at the next stop, nobody disembarks.]
[Bus driver to lady]
Bus driver: Is this you?
[Elderly lady shakes her head and points her head to the next passenger]
[Bus driver to man]
Bus driver: Is this you, mate?
Man: No.
[A woman passenger to the man]
Woman passenger: Hey, are you getting off this time? Are you getting off here?
[Man to woman passenger]
Man: Only when you leave here, darling.
Woman passenger: Don't call me darling.
Man: Sorry.
[Visual: Bus driver checks his rear view mirror, teenagers look uncomfortable]
[Bus driver pulls up, gets out of his seat and talks to man]
Bus driver: You okay there, mate?
Man: Yes.
Woman passenger: He keeps ringing the bell.
[Bus driver to woman passenger]
Bus driver: I know.
[Bus driver to man]
Bus driver: Where you getting off?
Man: Not till the city.
Bus driver: I'm not going to the city, mate. I'm going by the airport.
Man: Okay.
Woman passenger: You're on the wrong bus.
[Bus driver to woman passenger]
Bus driver: Thanks.
[Bus driver to man]
Bus driver: You've got somebody that can pick you up?
Man: I don't know.
Bus Driver: Maybe a family member who can come get you?
Man: I don't know.
Bus driver: Okay. You just sit tight there, all right?
[Bus driver on the bus phone to the depot]
Bus driver: Depot, Driver T1, I've got a gentleman who's a bit confused about where he's going.
Dispatcher: Okay T1.
Bus driver: I'm not too happy about dropping him off at this stop. He seems a bit disorientated.
Dispatcher: Okay T1. Standby.
Bus driver: I'm trying to get a contact number from him, for maybe a family member.
Dispatcher: Okay T1, if you get a number, let us know and we'll try to contact someone for you.
Bus driver: Thanks.
[Bus driver hangs up the phone, and turns to talk to man]
Bus driver: Just sit tight there, okay mate?
Man: Okay.
[Visual: Teenagers put on earphones. Elderly lady gets up and presses next stop button]
Elderly lady: This is my stop.
[Elderly lady to woman passenger]
Elderly lady: I am getting off.
[Visual: Bus drives down the street]
[Title card: Together we can reshape the impact of dementia.]
[Title card: Dementia Australia]
[Title card: Dementia.org.au]
[END of recorded material]
Transcript
[Beginning of recorded material]
[Title card: Dementia Australia]
[Visual: Man walks down the supermarket aisle holding a magazine, sees empty cash register. He sees a woman walk to the cash register with a trolley and hurries towards it. Woman gets to cash register first, an older lady walks up to the cash register ahead of woman, who is unpacking her trolley.]
Shopper #1: Hey!
Staff: I'm sorry, I think this lady was first.
Shopper #2: Oh, no that's okay.
Staff: Are you sure?
Shopper #2: That's fine.
Staff: Okay.
Shopper #1: Fine.
[Visual: Staff scans older lady’s items]
Staff: That'll be 7.95. Do you have any reward cards today?
Shopper #3: Sorry?
Staff: Do you have any reward cards today?
Shopper #3: Okay.
Shopper #1: Oh goodness’ sake.
[Visual: Woman talks to man who is holding a Men’s Health magazine]
Shopper #2: Men's Health, you in a hurry?
Staff: Do you have any reward cards?
Shopper #3: No.
Staff: No? Okay. Would you be interested in our two for one chocolate special today?
Shopper #3: Okay.
[Visual: Staff picks up the chocolate]
Shopper #3: Oh, no, no, no.
Staff: That will be 7.95. Were you paying EFTPOS or cash today?
[Visual: Woman opens her purse]
Staff: How are you paying today?
[Visual: Lady hands over a card and a $10 note. Staff returns lady’s card, lady hands it back to staff]
Staff: Were you paying cash today?
Shopper #1: Can we hurry this up? I'm in a bit of a rush.
[Visual: Woman turns around and looks at man sternly]
Shopper #1: It’s my wife…
Staff: Just one moment, sir. I'm just serving this lady.
Shopper #2: Do I have to give you something?
Shopper #1: No, you've got to give it to her. Can you be quick please?
Staff: You're paying cash today?
Shopper #3: Yes.
[Visual: Staff hands lady her change, lady drops her coins on the floor]
Shopper #1: For Goodness’ sake.
[Visual: Woman helps lady pick up her coins and hands it to her, man steps forward and queues up behind lady]
Shopper #2: No worries. Here you go.
[Visual: Lady hands her coins to staff]
Staff: No, no. This is yours.
[Visual: Staff hands shopping bag to lady]
Staff: There we go.
Shopper #3: Thank you.
[Staff to lady]
Staff: No problem.
[Store PA system]
PA Voice: Alex, can you come to the checkout, please?
[Visual: Staff to man]
Staff: Sorry, sir. I think this lady was next.
[Visual: Man goes back to queue behind woman]
Shopper #2: Can I get some bags, please?
Staff: No problem.
[Title card: Together we can reshape the impact of dementia]
[Title card: Dementia Austalia]
[Title card: dementia.org.au]
[END of recorded material]
Transcript
[Beginning of recorded material]
[Title card: Dementia Australia]
[Visual: Retail worker pushes a trolley on the shop floor. Karen talks to a male shopper]
Karen: You got these three different things in there.
[Visual: Retail worker nearly knocks over shopper with the trolley, Karen pulls male shopper in to safety]
Karen: Oh, God come here. I am so sorry.
Annoucement: Karen, customers downstairs please. Karen.
Karen: Excuse me. Okay.
[Visual: Karen walks away from male shopper and walks to the customer service desk. Female staff subtly head gestures to the right, Karen acknowledges]
Joe:(Offscreen) I guarantee you'll not know what time of year it is, right.
[Visual: Female staff to customers]
Female staff: Thank you so much. Have a nice day.
[Visual: Joe speaks with a male customer]
Joe: When you push the button on it and it won't stay on the screen, okay? The wall clocks are just clocks. No calendars. All right. I don't understand why you...
[Visual: Joe to Karen]
Joe: Karen, this guy's looking for a clock, but I've shown him all the wall clocks, but he wants to on the calendar on it as well. And I've shown him the desktop clocks, but you need to push button on those, and they don't stay on the screen. He wants something that stays on the screen.
Karen: Okay, so it was a clock you're after?
Male customer: I want one like this one.
Joe: But with a calendar on it as well.
Karen: Oh, but with a calendar as well.
Male customer: Does it come with a screen?
Joe: No, if you want to have one with a screen on it, you've got to push the button, okay? None of them stay on the screen.
Male customer: What?
Karen: Okay, yeah, thanks Joe. It's fine, I'll take it from here.
[Visual: Joe shakes his head and walks off]
Male customer: I don't need it.
Karen: Okay, sure. That's fine.
[Visual: Joe looks over to Karen and male customer]
Joe: (shouts) No, they don't go there anymore! They're in the haberdashery.\
[Visual: Karen looks shock, to male customer]
Karen: Here, come over here.
Male customer: I need to go.
Karen: Okay, that's fine.
Male customer: I need to go.
Karen: Are you waiting for someone?
Male customer: I'm waiting for my wife.
Karen: Oh, okay. Where is she?
Male customer: She's just gone out for a minute.
Karen: Do you want me to call her?
Male customer: I don't know.
Karen: Do you have a phone or...
Male customer: I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't know.
Karen: Oh, that's okay. That's okay. Here, come, come and have a seat.
[Visual: Karen and male customer walks to the furniture area. Male customer sits on a chair]
Karen: Do you have your wallet on you?
[Visual: Male customer hands Karen his wallet. Karen opens the wallet and pulls out a paper note]
Male customer: Yeah.
Karen: Is this your wife's number?
[Visual: Male customer nods]
Karen: Yeah? Do you want us just to give her a call? All right. Yeah, I'll be right back.
[Visual: Karen hands wallet back to male customer and walks towards customer service desk. Karen speaks to female staff]
Karen: Hey, can you just keep your eye on that gentleman over there? I'm just going to try and call his wife for him.
Female staff: Sure.
[Visual: Karen picks up the phone. Joe walks up to Karen with a calendar and a clock. Karen mouths “no.” Joe walks away.]
[Title card: Together we can reshape the impact of dementia.]
[Title card: Dementia Australia]
[Title card: dementia.org.au]
[END of recorded material]
Transcript
[Beginning of recorded material]
[Text: Sebastian, Co-Founder and Carer]
Kas: I'm Kas.
Sebastian: And I'm Sebastian. And we are from the Lithgow Dementia Alliance. Support for people in regional areas living with dementia and their carers has been enhanced through the introduction of the creative dementia workshops that focus on art, music, and mindfulness therapies.
[Visual: Workshop participants pick a paper out of a basket]
Kas: The workshops have provided a safe, inclusive, and creative space that create a sense of calm, memory stimulation, confidence, and an ongoing connection with others in the community.
[Visual: Workshop participants draw and colour]
Sebastian: Through our involvement in the Lithgow Dementia Alliance, we were able to consult with those who were living with dementia to gauge their views on the concept, and whether they would enjoy participating in the workshops. And from that, we were able to then plan the types of workshops, and making sure that the dynamics were right, and the facilitators were fit for purpose.
[Text: Matthew, Music therapist]
[Visual: Workshop participants play music]
Matthew: Biggest benefit I've seen is just a huge, huge increase in just confidence, and comfort, and reduced anxiety. And in the first week, we had people that kind of wouldn't really talk that much or engage, especially in the music, they had a bit of a difficult time. But today, this last workshop, we've had everyone singing at one point, everyone really getting into the games, and it's been amazing to see.
[Text: Willow, carer]
Willow: When you are in a group like this, you're acknowledged for just being who you are. So, yes, in support of anybody wanting to initiate, or considers joining a group. I was very, very reluctant, and I was only going to come along for one day just to see what it was like. And I was here once, and I was absolutely determined to come back because I was so supported here right from the beginning.
[Text: Tim, living with dementia]
Tim: Every time I'm here, it's lovely. I'm in a different place altogether. I didn't think I could find anything else better than this. It's fantastic.
[Text: Kas, Co-founder, Dementia Alliance Coordinator and Support Worker]
Kas: It's just reinforced the value of anything creative and social for people living with dementia, and also the need of carers to have that support that isn't anywhere else in our very small community, and it's just been a godsend. And it's reinforced the fact that we need those services here, and we need to continue the work that we've been doing with the workshops.
[Text: Jennifer, counsellor]
Jennifer: Because everybody's story is different.
[Visual: Workshop participants play instruments]
Jennifer: In the support group, I've seen people open up that possibly wouldn't have opened up before. So, they're actually able to be with their feelings. I've seen more acceptance around what's going on for them.
[Text: Wendy, Art therapist]
Wendy: I think people see, in general, not just people with dementia, see in art their own lives. So, often, people have been able to express how they're feeling and how their lives are going, and how they see the world, by describing what they see in an artwork.
[Visual: Sebastian talks to workshop participants]
Sebastian: So there's being a real learning about collaboration, cohesion, and making sure that we are delivering the right outcomes for those who are living with dementia. And that's been a really positive thing for us.
[Text: Jeff, Living with dementia]
Jeff: They're really interested making us, at our times here, to make a good thing for people in what their living with.
[Text: Frank, carer]
Frank: It's had a very beneficial effect on them, even making contacts. You're in a world all by yourself, and even going to the doctors and the specialists, you still got no group so to speak. But, here, we've made community contacts with people that we can share ideas with, and do things with, and get information from.
Willow: It doesn't matter who you are, where you're from, what you look like, your background, or what you have or have not. It's a matter of we're all in this leaky boat together, and we're all bailing out as hard as we can. And so, we are trying to support each other in every possible way that we can, just doing the best we can, for as long as we can. And you couldn't ask for anything, I can't ask for anything more than that. So, I would definitely, definitely urge anybody wanting to start a similar type of group, please do so. You’ll never regret it. Never regret it.
[Title card]
The Lithgow Dementia Alliance acknowledges and thanks the following entities for their support throughout the development and delivery of the workshops.
Dementia Australia
Lithgow City Council
Lithgow Information and Neighbourhood Centre
Quota Lithgow
Gang Gang Gallery
Radio 2LT Lithgow
Central West Village Voice
The University of Notre Dame, Australia – Rural Clinical School, Lithgow
[End title card]
[Title card]
The workshops were crated with funding from Dementia Australia’s Dementia Friendly Communities program.
The Wiradjuri people. The traditional custodians of the land on which the workshops were held.
For more information about the workshop please contact lithgowdementiaalliance@gmail.com
[End title card]
[END of recorded material]