Wahroonga – Biloela becomes a dementia friendly town

Lutheran Services recently teamed up with a myriad of local organisations in Biloela to become a dementia friendly town.

The program, called Dementia Unravelled, was to raise awareness of the condition, and improve support services in the town.  It was also to help people learn more about dementia and help support people and their families to continue to lead valued lives in the community.

Funded by the Queensland Government and Lutheran Services, the program ran for four months and involved the Banana Shire Council, local schools, businesses and other support groups.

An Action Alliance Group  and a carers support group were established.

A Reminisce program was also run, which involved 11 activity-based sessions for people with dementia and their families using strategies including music, photos, sounds, games, objects, craft, dance and storytelling to trigger people’s memories.

An art project was run in tandem with this – If a Painting Could Talk.

Dementia Unravelled committee member Rosemary Munroe said caring for a person with dementia had its challenges as it could be isolating.

“This project presents dementia in such a way to the community that they could learn more about it in an inclusive and creative way,” Mrs Munroe said.