Alzheimer's Australia

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (12:43): I move:

That this house congratulates Alzheimer's Australia on their efforts to create dementia-friendly communities and encourages all members of parliament have their offices accredited as dementia-friendly organisations.

As we know, dementia is an increasing problem in our society and we need to recognise the fact that there are many South Australians who, if not already suffering from dementia, will become sufferers from dementia. Unfortunately, it is a progressive disease; in fact, it is a fatal disease. Not many people actually understand that it is a fatal disease, as the changes that go on in the brain result in the death of dementia sufferers. It is the second leading cause of death in Australia. I certainly did not know that. I do not know how many other members in this place are aware of that.

Today, according to Alzheimer's Australia there are 353,800 Australians living with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. In the absence of a significant medical breakthrough, that figure is expected to grow to almost 900,000 by 2050. While it is more common in people over 65, people in their 30s, 40s and 50s can get dementia. We need to make sure that we recognise that it is an increasing problem. It is an extremely serious problem and, unfortunately, it is becoming a much more common problem. As members of parliament, as leaders in our communities and as leaders in society, we should do whatever we can to make our communities dementia friendly.

A number of months ago, I distributed to members' pigeonholes a pack from Alzheimer's Australia called 'Creating dementia-friendly communities.' It was a toolkit, containing a number of flyers and brochures. 'Talk to me' is about talking to people about dementia and talking to people whose family members have dementia. Another is 'Five simple steps to maximise your brain health.' We all know the old story: if you do not use it, you lose it. That applies to mental capacity as well as physical capacity. In the toolkit, you will find 'Introduction to dementia-friendly' and an introduction to the dementia-friendly symbol. We have this dementia-friendly symbol on my office.

My staff have undergone some training and some work with Alzheimer's Australia to make sure my staff understand and, if people come into my office who are showing signs of having some problems with dementia, we are able to assist and recognise that. We are able to understand that we can just take that little bit more time to make their lives a little bit more bearable and to ease them through some of the particular problems they come to see us about. Having that dementia-friendly symbol on businesses around Glenelg is becoming more and more common. We are trying to make the Bay a disability-friendly precinct as well as a dementia-friendly precinct through local businesses.

There are a number of flyers in the toolkit that members have been given. If they do not have the toolkit or cannot remember receiving one, please come and see me. I am more than happy to provide them with another toolkit because this is an increasing issue for all of us. Certainly, many families in our electorates would benefit from our being aware of the need to recognise and respond to people with dementia. The need to create dementia-friendly communities right across the state and right across the nation is something I cannot emphasise enough.

I look forward to members not necessarily contributing to any debate today but certainly contributing towards making South Australia a much more dementia-friendly place by working through the packs that they have been given and working towards further understanding of the pressures that people with dementia are under and the issues they and their families have to cope with. There are some guidelines in the pack about how you can do that. There is some advice. If you want further advice, certainly contact Alzheimer's Australia. They do terrific work.

We do need to make sure we support these groups, not only for their immediate impact but, if you want to be a hardened economic rationalist, for the cost benefit of keeping people out of our hospitals, keeping people healthier, keeping the cost of the health system down through doing something simple like making our offices, our businesses and our communities more dementia friendly. I look forward to members taking up this challenge. If you need some further advice or assistance, come and see me or contact Alzheimer's Australia. They are very friendly people. They are very easy to talk to and are more than willing to assist all of us in doing what we all want to do—that is, make South Australia an even better place to live.

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (12:49): It is with pleasure that I rise to support the member for Morphett's particularly important motion. Nationally, dementia is the largest known cause of death and disability of older Australians. Its impact on our health system and the demand for services is extraordinary. I think it would be fair to say that probably all of us have been touched by someone with dementia in our families or among our friends or in our local communities, so this motion is very relevant indeed.

By 2050, without a known cure, it is estimated that dementia will cost in excess of $80 billion for the care of 900,000 Australians predicted to have a diagnosis. Of these, 50,000 will be from South Australia. Communities will face significant challenges from the social cost of dementia as more people across our workforce, schools, businesses and retail are either diagnosed with dementia or become responsible for the care of a relative. I wish to inform the house that dementia-friendly communities is a current priority area within the Ageing portfolio and the work of the Office for the Ageing. It is also a key policy and program initiative of Alzheimer's Australia.

Already the state government, in partnership with Alzheimer's Australia, South Australia, has worked with the cities of Onkaparinga and Port Lincoln to identify opportunities for greater accessibility in a range of settings. Raising community awareness of what is dementia friendly will support people with dementia in relationships with their community, their interactions with others and support for their rights. Understanding and support diminishes judgement and creates an inclusive community.

Dementia-friendly communities focus on creating recreational, residential, retail and business places where the rights of people living with dementia are supported. This includes the right to autonomy in relation to important decisions and to live a higher quality of life with meaning and purpose. I ask every member of parliament to consider their contribution to this initiative. The visibility of dementia-friendly electorate offices will contribute to the value and respect of people with dementia and will help safeguard their rights.

It is with definite pleasure that I support the member for Morphett in this motion and I commend and congratulate Alzheimer's Australia on their dementia-friendly communities and their work to date and encourage members to be involved.

Ms SANDERSON (Adelaide) (12:51): I rise also to support the motion and I commend the member for Morphett for bringing this to our attention. On Wednesday 29 June, in partnership with Alzheimer's SA and the Adelaide City Council, I hosted a free forum in the city called 'Working together for a dementia-friendly community'. The forum was attended by about 100 people, consisting of those with dementia and their carers, family members, local businesses and interested community people.

We had an excellent panel of guest speakers, including Dr Faizal Ibrahim, the medical director of the Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service for Alzheimer's SA, who is also an active researcher in residential aged-care facilities. Also included on the panel were presenters from a carer's point of view, a person with dementia, a business perspective presenter and also specialists working on dementia-friendly environments.

Brett Partington, well-known business owner at Burnside Village, provided an extraordinary insight into caring for his father who was diagnosed with dementia. Through his experience, Brett was able to achieve changes at the Burnside Village to make this a friendly space for dementia sufferers. These changes can be as simple as taking the time to slow down and listen carefully to customers, ensuring the person is recognised at local shops. They visit the bank, the pharmacy, etc., on a regular basis. Dementia sufferers enjoy and feel comfortable shopping where they are known. Brett has gone on to set up a support network on social media called Dementia Downunder, a platform to communicate through an online forum that has been appreciated and acknowledged by carers, families and community members.

This morning, I listened to Ita Buttrose on the radio, who explained about her experience with her father and how many people with dementia like familiarity and shopping at the same shops, and how important it is that the people in those shops are aware that they have dementia or that they can be quite agitated. Apparently, it is quite common for people with dementia to perhaps think that they do not have a lot of money and they worry about money. Ita said that she spoke to the bank manager to explain that to him and that if her father came in looking stressed and concerned about money that he should talk to him for a few minutes in his office and settle him down. She mentioned that at the pharmacy her father regularly visited they had her number so that if her father looked agitated or upset she could be contacted to help.

So, we can as a community do more and I commend the member for Morphett, who has been working with the Jetty Road store holders to make that both a disability and dementia-friendly area. I would promote that to all members. Particularly for me it would be easier to start with places such as Prospect Road or O'Connell Street or Walkerville Terrace, where there is a smaller number. The city is obviously a lot bigger area to cover, but I am sure that we can get there and have safe areas. I believe in Singapore they have an orange wristband that people wear if they have been trained in dementia and understanding the signs of dementia, and know how to treat people with dementia, so that someone with dementia can look out for that orange band and know that they will get the help that is required.

The aim of a dementia-friendly community is that people with dementia are understood, respected and supported, and are confident they can contribute to community life, a community that will be aware of and understand dementia and people with dementia who feel included and involved and have a choice and control over their day-to-day lives. I, too, am encouraging members of parliament to get on board and make their electorates a dementia-friendly community.

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (12:55): I thank members for their contributions. I reiterate the fact that if members do not recall getting the community toolkit, please come and see me. If I can be of any assistance, let me know. I know that Alzheimer's Australia are more than happy to help members make their offices, their communities and the state dementia-friendly.

Motion carried.