Priority areas for dementia ATSI communities

Alzheimer’s Australia last week released a communique of a recent workshop, Continuing the Conversation addressing dementia in ATSI communities, which outlines the four priority areas:

• education and awareness of dementia;
• risk reduction strategies for dementia;
• accessible services and supports for people with dementia; and
• high quality and culturally appropriate residential aged care options for people with dementia.

Fred Tanner, chairperson of Alzheimer’s Australia’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dementia Advisory Group (NATSIDAG), says: “Given that ATSI communities are affected by dementia at a rate three to five times higher than the general Australian population, it’s imperative that we work towards improving these priority areas.”

In order to achieve this, Mr Tanner says information produced and services provided to ATSI people need to be culturally appropriate and easily accessible.

“This could help to alleviate barriers currently faced by ATSI people and their families about dementia. We also a need to empower ATSI people, their families and communities in the delivery of appropriate dementia support and aged care services to their own communities,” he says.

Carol Bennett, Alzheimer's Australia chief executive, claims Alzheimer’s Australia is committed to supporting ATSI peoples who may be living with dementia.

“For instance, last year we released a resource, Your Story Matters, to enable communities to identify steps they can take to reduce their risk of developing dementia,” Ms Bennett says.

“This is just the first step in providing information for ATSI people about lifestyle changes they can make to reduce their risk of dementia,” she says.

Download the Continuing the Conversation addressing dementia in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.