Narrabri Dementia Friendly Community Committee saying thank you to health, homecare workers

As part of Dementia Action week the Narrabri Dementia Friendly Community Committee along with several partners is saying thank you to the health and home care workers who support people living with dementia each day.

A free barbecue provided by Narrabri Rotary along with a cuppa or cold drink will be available in the hospital car park on Friday, September 23 from 11am. Kylie Finlay, memory and cognition Registered Nurse with Narrabri Community Health and chair of the Narrabri Dementia Friendly Community committee and her committee members are keen to partner with other Narrabri services to pause and say “thanks” as part of Dementia Action Week this year.

Dementia Action Week September 19 to 25 was developed in consultation with Dementia Advocates, who have a lived experience of dementia. The ‘A little support makes a big difference’ campaign demonstrates that many people living with dementia can continue to live well for many years after their diagnosis. Dementia impacts close to half a million Australians and almost 1.6 million Australians are involved in their care. The number of people living with dementia is set to double in the next 25 years.

In the past two years, Kylie has organised a “rock drop” along the riverside walk to raise awareness for people living with dementia in the community. This year Kylie has been selling socks from the Memory Walk & Jog fundraising arm of Dementia Australia for action week to health care workers and community, to help with the “Stepping Up for people living with dementia” theme.

“We need to continue to promote that many people live happy and healthy lives in the own homes for many years following a diagnosis of dementia. Sadly, there remains a lot of discrimination and it can be a very lonely time for the person and for their carers”. The Narrabri Dementia Friendly Community Committee is working to make Narrabri a more inclusive place to live.

“It is also important to celebrate and support the people who work with people living with dementia and their families” says Kylie. “On Friday we want health and home care workers to take a break and enjoy a free barbecue and drink. Socks will be available for sale with proceeds going to Dementia Australia.”

“Narrabri Rotary is on board with the barbecue and grant funding from the PHN has allowed us to have the 123 coffee van on site to provide the drinks”, says Kylie. “Like everyone else, our committee has been impacted by COVID restrictions and it is exciting to now be able to continue our work in the Narrabri community. We are grateful to the PHN for funding our committee’s activities this year.”

For more information on dementia go to https://www.dementia.org.au/dementia-action-week.