Resource to support local councils to create dementia-friendly communities

A new toolkit has been developed to assist local councils to make their communities more dementia friendly.

The resource, produced by Alzheimer’s Australia Vic, identifies three key steps for creating a dementia-friendly community such as identifying champions and consulting with people with dementia and provides information, resources and guidance for councils.

The practical toolkit was informed by collaboration with more than half of all Victorian councils, people living with dementia, carers and representatives from the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services and the Municipal Association of Victoria. It was jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments under the Home and Community Care (HACC) program.

Alzheimer’s Australia Vic general manager of learning and development Dr David Sykes said local governments were well placed to ensure that communities were inclusive and supportive of all citizens.

“We are keen for the toolkit to help council staff to understand that in partnership with people living with dementia they can become more dementia-friendly without having a big budget to work with,” he said.

The content reflects the lessons learned from dementia-friendly initiatives across Australia and draws on international experience.

UK dementia expert Philly Hare helped launch the toolkit on Tuesday.

“I’m really pleased that the toolkit stresses to councils the importance of working with people with dementia to identify ways they can become more dementia friendly as these direct insights are invaluable and help to ensure any changes made do actually meet their needs,” she said.

Creating Dementia-Friendly Communities: A Toolkit for Local Government can be downloaded here

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