Dementia-Friendly Communities

Any community can be a Dementia-Friendly Community: one where people living with dementia are integral in creating spaces that understand, respect, support and empower them.

A woman stands smiling in a hall. Two other people hold her hands and talk to her as others gather behind.

“It is important for me to live well NOW but I can't achieve this alone. I need your help. Together, we can all work to create a dementia-friendly community so that everyone feels valued and remains connected.”
– John, living with dementia

You can walk alongside people living with dementia, families and carers to support them to continue contributing to their communities and staying connected. Dementia Australia has tools, support and grants to help you make a difference in your neighbourhood, your town, your community.

What’s a Dementia-Friendly Community?

In a dementia-friendly community, people committed to making change come together. They create a more inclusive, supportive and welcoming place where everyone can thrive.

People living with dementia are at the heart of all dementia-friendly communities, sharing their experiences to help create an inclusive community for all. You can be an individual, a group, a business or organisation, anyone can make a difference.

Each dementia-friendly community is unique, they may include social, sporting, recreational, faith-based or community groups. However, what they all share is that they engage with people living with dementia to understand their needs to create inclusive and supportive environments.

Communities in Action
See how individuals, groups, businesses and alliances are working with people living with dementia, their families and carers to make communities more dementia-friendly.
https://www.dementia.org.au/get-involved/dementia-friendly-communities/communities-action

“Fundamentally, that is what a dementia-friendly community is about: People living with dementia and the people who support them want to belong to the community. They want to be a part of the community. They want to feel valued. And they feel that way when they come along. They feel a sense of purpose. They’re a part of something. It’s changing people’s lives.”
– John, living with dementia