Will you Dine4Dementia?

Dine4Dementia is a new way to encourage people touched by dementia to hold a conversation with their family and friends about dementia over a meal in a casual and relaxed environment.

From now till 30 June, participants can choose to host either a lunch or dinner event from the convenience of their own home and invite family and friends to attend. Guests are then encouraged to make a tax-deductible donation to Alzheimer’s Australia WA in lieu of bringing a gift for the host.

Dine4Dementia is open to individuals, families and businesses and all funds raised will go to providing quality dementia care and education programs for families living with dementia.

The highest fundraising host will win a fully catered dinner for eight cooked by WA’s celebrity fishmonger and former MasterChef contestant Josh Catalano. The prize has been generously donated by Catalano’s Seafood Secrets, an award winning seafood retailer in WA.

Josh, whose grandmother has dementia, said the lack of awareness and understanding of dementia, was an issue close to his heart.

"The biggest problem we have is the 'out of sight, out of mind' mentality. By not confronting dementia and not talking about the disease, we're really making it worse," he said.

"Dementia is real, and it happens every day. We need to talk about it as it’s better to have it out than in."

Josh said his family found it difficult to cope with his grandmother’s diagnosis and kept silent much of the time at first.

“We were a typical southern Italian family, real tough on the exterior, not really open about our feelings. There’s so much unsaid in my family about dementia and it’s so heavy for everyone,” he said.

Dementia is a mind-crippling and irreversible condition and is now the third leading cause of death in Australia. It is fatal and as yet, there is no cure.

Alzheimer’s Australia WA Chief Executive Officer Frank Schaper said many people find it difficult to talk to family and friends about a diagnosis of dementia and often people shy away from having such conversations.

“Dine4Dementia will help create conversations about dementia in a less confronting environment and will help dispel some of the myths associated with the condition,” Mr Schaper said.

“Whether it’s around a dinner table, a barbecue, a morning or afternoon tea gathering, food is an essential ingredient to conversations.”

“We want people across the community to talk openly about dementia and to share with others how dementia has touched their lives. By doing so, we hope it removes the stigma and the cloak of silence that is often associated with this prevalent condition.”

“Dine4Dementia participants will also help raise money to fund dementia awareness, education and support programs for people living with dementia.”

To register or for more information, visit www.Dine4Dementia.com.au