Jennifer Pittorino
The Hobsons Bay Dementia Alliance (HBDA) has received a grant which it hopes will kick start its journey helping those living with dementia in the community.
Natalie Ive is one of five members who is grateful to the Hobsons Bay Community Fund and the Lions Club of Altona for the $1,705 grant.
A relatively new organisation, Ms Ive said the HBDA applied for the grant to raise awareness for the organisation.
“This grant will highlight the lack of support and services for people living with dementia, and allow us to create community awareness” she said.
Ms Ive said the grant will go towards hosting a community forum which is expected to be held in March, as well as other community events and programs.
“These will be there for people living with dementia, to be a support network in Hobsons Bay,” she said.
“The HBDA aims to play a significant role in advocating for and contributing to developing a dementia friendly community that is inclusive and welcoming of people living with dementia, family and friend networks.”
In addition to the forum, Ms Ive said the alliance plans to host exercise programs, one of which will be at Fitness For Her gym in Altona Meadows.
“We will be working towards that next year,” she said.
“These funds will allow us to create community awareness of the alliance, via the forum which will help grow the membership of the alliance.
“As we are a pilot program. This will give us the ability to support community events and programs for people living with dementia.”
Despite the alliance being newly developed, Ms Ive said they have already some interest from the community.
“We have had small pockets of people being interested which is fantastic, but we need to get out there.
“We would love to find out where these people living with dementia are living in our community, so they can come forward with their carers and support network to have a discussion somewhere they can feel supported.”
