Jennifer Pittorino
Newly formed dementia support group, Hobsons Bay Dementia Soaring Falcons, wants to encourage those struggling to reach out during national Dementia Action Week.
This year Dementia Action Week from Monday, September 18, to Sunday, September 24, has the theme ‘Act Now for a Dementia-Friendly Future’.
In response, Dementia Australia has called for urgent action and commitments from councils, businesses, community groups and leaders in every corner of Australia to take decisive action and be the change that makes their communities more dementia-friendly.
Natalie Ive started the alliance because she felt she had no one to turn to following her diagnosis, and didn’t want the same for others.
“When I was first diagnosed I was just crying in my lounge room not knowing what to do, because there were no community services that could help people living with dementia,” she said.
“I thought to myself I have to make a change, I have to find a way.
“This alliance is really a call to action for people living with dementia in the Hobsons Bay area.“
Ms Ive said the alliance is made up of two people living with dementia, a carer, a doctor, a gym manager as well as her daughter.
“We have reached out to council and they have been very receptive to our ideas, they are very keen to implement some of our suggestions,” she said.
“Until we are up and running, we are encouraging people to reach out to Dementia Australia, the hotline is open 24 hours seven days a week.“
After becoming an advocate with dementia Australia with the advocates program, Ms Ive said she found purpose once again.
“I was able once again to tap into things that I did before in my life,” she said.
“It has given me so much purpose. I feel safe, I’m understood and I have so many advocacy opportunities.
“You don’t have to be isolated with dementia, we shouldn’t be isolated, we should just be like anybody else walking in our community.”
According to a recent Dementia Australia survey, almost a third of Australians find people living with dementia frightening.
