‘Appy’ anniversary to Alzheimer’s Australia Vic
Alzheimer’s Australia Victoria is celebrating ‘30 Years of Memories’ with the release of its new Facebook app.
Alzheimer’s Australia Victoria is celebrating ‘30 Years of Memories’ with the release of its new Facebook app.
Alzheimer’s Australia Vic hopes to promote three decades of commitment to people living with dementia, their families and carers in an interesting and engaging way. The new app invites members of the organisation’s Facebook community to discover an interesting fact about something that happened on their birthday during the past 30 years.
Maree McCabe, Alzheimer’s Australia Vic chief executive, said: “For three decades Alzheimer’s Australia Vic has ensured the people of Victoria know we are here with them when a diagnosis of dementia is received or when they have any concerns or questions. The education, information and support that we provide really does change the lives of people living with dementia, their carers and their families.”
Ms McCabe added the 30 Years of Memories app is a fun way to engage Alzheimer’s Australia Vic’s ever increasing online community. “We are constantly striving to ensure we are harnessing the most effective ways of communicating with our audience,” Ms McCabe said.
“Our Facebook community has seen rapid growth over the past 12 months and we have noted that our followers are becoming increasingly vocal, which is great.
“Aside from providing a platform to promote our organisation’s activities, we believe that through Facebook we are fostering an online community that can provide support to one another. Our 30 Years of Memories app is an entertaining way of giving back to this audience and I would encourage everybody to give it a try,” Ms McCabe added.
Alzheimer’s Australia Vic’s first ever public meeting was held on 8 March, 1983 in response to public concern over the lack of information, resources and residential care for people living with dementia. The first nnual eneral eeting was held later that year on September 13.
By 1993 Alzheimer’s Australia Vic had 4,000 people attending its education and training sessions. This more than doubled by 2003 to 8,800 before doubling again with more than 15,000 attending its education programs during the last financial year.
The National Dementia Helpline was receiving about 1,200 calls annually by 1993. This has increased dramatically in the ensuing years, with 4,015 calls received in the past financial year.
It is estimated there are 74,600 people living with dementia in Victoria, with the number to increase by almost double by 2030, increasing to more than 141,000.
Find Alzheimer’s Australia Vic on Facebook to try out the ‘30 Years of Memories’ app.
