Summary
The Dementia-friendly Kiama pilot project commenced in June 2014 as a partnership between the University of Wollongong, Kiama Municipal Council, Dementia Australia (formerly Alzheimer’s Australia) and the Kiama community.
In October 2014, the Dementia Advisory Group (consisting of people living with dementia and their carers) and Dementia Alliance (including members of the Advisory Group, representatives from organisations and interested individuals) were formed to steer the project. These groups reviewed formative research conducted by the University of Wollongong in 2014 and developed an Action Plan.
The aims of the Action Plan were to:
- Support people with dementia to have a central role in the project
- Support people with dementia to maintain active involvement in the community
- Increase awareness and reduce the stigma of dementia
- Provide general and specific education and training about dementia in the community
- Improve the accessibility of the physical environment in and around Kiama for people living with dementia.
From this action plan many initiatives have occurred and continue to occur to promote social inclusion and increase support for those community members living with dementia and their carers.
Surveys conducted within the evaluation of the project have shown an improved positive attitude to dementia and raised awareness in relation to the disease as well as how it impacts upon those living with dementia and their carers. In addition, those living with dementia and their carers identify an improvement in positive attitudes of staff and increased support from local businesses following the initiatives.
Website: https://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/residents/disability/dementia-friendly-kiama/dementia-friendly-kiama
Key facts
Main target group: Older people with chronic health conditions or disability
Other target group(s): Vulnerable older people, both younger and older people, specifically people living with all forms of dementia and the people caring for them and the wider community
Sector(s): Health, Information and communication, Social protection, Transportation, Urban development
Other sector(s): Local businesses & service organisations
Desired outcome for older people:
Meet their basic needs
- Ageism
- Accessibility
- Ageing in place
- Dementia
- Elder abuse
- Intergenerational activities
- Inequities
- Inclusion
- Participation