RAISE YOUR AWARENESS

Start by educating yourself on Dementia so you can understand the experience of someone in your life living with Dementia in your life. Finding the right information, and having resources to refer to, can be empowering for someone living with Dementia and those around them. Dementia Australia has many resources, education courses and information about how you can help to empower and understand someone living with Dementia. Visit dementia.org.au to access these resources.

INCLUDE, ENCOURAGE AND EMPOWER

Create opportunities for people living with Dementia to contribute. This helps people stay connected and engaged in the community. Take the time to find out what someone might like to get involved in and how. Never underestimate the power of asking ‘what would you like?’ sometimes the simple act of asking can make someone feel included, encouraged and considered.

LISTEN

Listen to people living with Dementia with an open heart and mind. Body language can show you are engaged and present. Invite someone living with Dementia to share their ideas. You may need to use hand gestures and facial expressions to make yourself understood. Body language can show that you are engaged and present.

CREATE MOMENTS OF JOY

If you know someone who is living with Dementia, look for opportunities for humour and ways to laugh together, if it is appropriate. If the person living with Dementia is in the later stages of dementia or has difficulty communicating, there can still be moments of joy. Look out for those moments when the person can engage with you or can react to things around them such as a favourite smell or food. A smile activity could even be looking at old photos together.

MAKE YOUR ENVIRONMENTS DEMENTIA FRIENDLY

People living with Dementia often have different sensory perceptions, and their immediate environment can have a large impact on their wellbeing. Consider how the use of music and lighting can make a profound difference on how people react in some spaces. Making considered changes can make it easier for not just people living with Dementia, but also anyone with any sensory or physical challenges.

The ECH Care Hotel has a number of suites dedicated to people living with Dementia, giving them a safe and comfortable stay and providing much needed respite for their families and carers.

For more information or to book, visit ech.asn.au/care-hotel-respite

About 55,000 Australians have strokes every year, 73% of these being first-ever strokes1.

Astroke occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel (artery) and interrupts blood flow to the brain region supplied by that artery or when a blood vessel breaks, and bleeding occurs in an area of the brain. When a stroke happens, more than 1.9 million brain cells die each minute2, but time-critical treatment can stop this damage.

The first step in getting better outcomes from stroke is getting to the hospital quickly, which means recognising the F.A.S.T. signs and calling triple zero (000) straight away.

Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?

Can they lift both arms?

Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?

000

Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call triple zero (000) straight away.

Someone who has experienced a stroke may need extra support to return home and reach the same level of independence as before their hospitalisation.

ECH has a number of qualified health professionals experienced in treating older people with various health issues, including overcoming physical barriers to maintaining independence caused by a stroke. We work with our clients to understand their goals and assess and diagnose their condition.

1https://brainfoundation.org.au/ 2https://strokefoundation.org.au/

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