Dementia Awareness Week launched with seminar on ageing and diversity in Australia

"It is a great pleasure to launch our Dementia Awareness Week with a focus on ageing and diversity," Alzheimer’s Australia Vic Chief Executive Officer Maree McCabe said.

"Raising awareness about dementia throughout our culturally and linguistically diverse communities is vital to be able to provide the best support and useful information to help them live well with dementia.

Ensuring CALD communities know about the services available to help them as they age and perhaps are worried about their memory is an important part of our role as the peak body in Victoria for people living with dementia."

In partnering with Alzheimer’s Australia Vic, Professor David Ames, Director of NARI said, "Making our system and services more accessible to the different cultural groups in our community needs to improve.

"It’s not only about the community being aware but also making sure our health system and those working within it are well equipped in dealing with culturally and linguistically diverse patients when they seek help."

The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Ageing will open proceedings via video broadcast from Parliament House in Canberra.

The sessions will run from 9.00am to 5.15pm at Russell Kennedy Pty Ltd, Level 12, 469 La Trobe St, Melbourne.

Alzheimer’s Australia Vic and the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria will feature during a key session on community engagement and the capacity to build within our culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

The Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria will release a new report, Meant to care: Culturally Relevant Dementia Care.

This report was prepared by a dementia working party of which Alzheimer’s Australia Vic was a predominant member.

The report reviews the issues of culturally and linguistically diverse communities in relation to dementia and how we can provide better support and resources for people in these communities.

A second report by NARI entitled Improving Dementia Detection Rates in Older Asian Communities will also be released.

Mr Nick Wakeling MLA, Parliamentary Secretary for Health who will be present at the seminar said, "Both these reports are valuable as they will inform and improve the services for people living with dementia and their carers."

Representatives from Asian, Russian-Jewish, Finnish, Romanian and Lao communities will be represented throughout the day.

Other sessions will look at the issues facing ageing urban and remote indigenous communities, positive ageing, human rights and the future possibilities.

Dementia Awareness Week runs from 16 to 26 September throughout Victoria.

For the full calendar of events visit www.alzheimers.org.au/vic.

To download the reports go to http://www.mednwh.unimelb.edu.au/ and http://www.eccv.org.au/

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In Victoria 69,000 people are living with dementia, 56 people develop dementia every day.

 Alzheimer’s Australia Vic is the charity representing people with dementia in Victoria.

As the peak body, we provide specialised dementia information, education and support services.

Call our National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or visit www.alzheimers.org.au/vic

For interviews with presenters and the full program of events contact: Christine Bolt on 9816 5772 / 0400 004 553, cbolt@alzvic.asn.au.