By Abbey Cannan
NoosaCare’s Dementia Cafe is looking for sponsorship for community packs that support both an individual living with dementia and the carer.
Facilitated by Danah Wood from NoosaCare, the cafe runs every fortnight at various indoor and outdoor venues within the community and provides a welcoming, stigma-free setting for the group to socialise.
“Dementia doesn’t just affect individuals, it can impact entire families and networks of friends and loved ones,“ Danah said.
“Often people with dementia feel the need to withdraw from their community due to feeling like society does not understand their condition.
“This was why NoosaCare created the dementia cafe in 2018, as a space where people with dementia and their loved ones can feel understood, respected and supported as they navigate the condition.“
In recent years, NoosaCare produced a dementia-friendly Noosa community memory support pack to assist or support those living in the community with dementia.
“We want to expand on what we already do to ensure that we are supporting the struggling carers with the tools they need to navigate caring for a loved one with dementia,“ Danah said.
“We are seeing our carers struggle and ultimately become unwell from the stress and concern that they take onboard with the caring role.“
NoosaCare’s New DementiaLiving Community has been created to support the community when the carers can no longer provide this support themselves.
The new site was developed to facilitate leisure and recreation programs that challenge and enhance the psychological, spiritual, social, emotional and physical wellbeing of the residents in a living environment that reflects our Noosa way of living.
When it comes to the new DementiaLiving community, NoosaCare chief executive officer Megan D’Elton said it’s important that you are not afraid to challenge the norms of design and building for residents living with dementia.
“Don’t be afraid, be creative,“ she said.
“There is no limit to what you can create for building design, decor and gardens. Always ask yourself, would I live here.“
For more information on the NoosaCare’s Dementia Cafe, support pack, and on DementiaLiving Community at the Carramar site please email Danah Wood at NoosaCare on dwood@noosacare.com.au.
