Free dementia forum ‘Global Action Against Dementia’
Alzheimer’s Australia NSW will kick off this years’ Dementia Awareness Month with a free public seminar.
International guest speaker and Head of Global Action against Dementia (GAAD) Gill Ayling presents the lecture on Tuesday 1 September.
Ms Ayling has over 30 years of experience in the UK civil service and in the last 15 years has held senior roles in central government policy and operations work.
She has worked closely with people with dementia, their carers and families ensuring their views are reflected in policy decisions that will impact on them.
Ms Ayling’s talk will provide insights into changing attitudes in the community about dementia, as well as case studies of dementia-friendly communities from the UK.
The lecture will:
- Discuss why social action is the way to reduce stigma and change community attitudes about dementia;
- Present dementia-friendly case studies from the UK to highlight the key elements that make dementia-friendly communities possible;
- Examine the critical role of partnerships in creating dementia-friendly communities including through the leadership of people with dementia and Local Dementia Action Committees; and,
- Identify the outcomes that are being achieved by dementia-friendly communities and how they can be measured.
Alzheimer’s Australia has a vision to develop dementia-friendly communities and organisations in Australia to reduce the stigma and social isolation associated with a diagnosis of dementia.
The essence of dementia-friendly communities is to engage people with dementia in everyday life. People with disabilities have insisted on societies being inclusive and so should people with dementia.
The national Dementia Awareness Month starts 1st September until 30 September and this years' theme is Creating Dementia-Friendly Communities. Contact the Alzheimer's Australia office in your state for information about local events.
For more information about the Global Action against Dementia seminar, call Alzheimer's Australia NSW on (02) 9805 0100 or email nsw.reception@alzheimers.org.au. Register online by Friday 21 August 2015, bookings essential.
