COTA NT recognised as ‘working towards dementia-friendly’
18 Sep 2024
See COTA NT’s dementia friendly activities
COTA NT has been recognised by Dementia Australia as ‘working towards dementia-friendly’, which reflects the effort taken by staff to develop a solid action plan and commit to creating a safe and dementia-friendly community.
The COTA NT action plan was created with the involvement of people with lived experience of dementia, including COTA NT staff member Cecilia Chiolero, who is a founding member of the Darwin Dementia Alliance group. COTA NT has organised activities designed to engage people living with dementia and conducted in a safe and accessible environment. To date these have included a seated funfit class, line dancing and singing groups. The program has been supported by SuperAgeing, Let’s Sing and NuLine Dance.
Improved and better visible signage has also been created for the COTA NT head office and accessibility enhancements such as bright-coloured toilet seat covers and differentiating wall colours are being explored.
COTA NT management, staff, and volunteers of COTA NT made the commitment to work towards becoming a dementia-friendly organisation and staff completed a basic awareness module of training.
The organisation’s commitment is to:
- value people living with dementia and aim to support social inclusion in our business
- include the voices of people living with dementia in our action plan/s
- liaise with local dementia alliance or dementia-friendly communities staff regarding our on-going progress towards becoming
dementia-friendly - implementing actions outlined in our plan.
Principles of working towards a dementia-friendly organisation
1. People living with dementia and their care partners and families are involved in the development of this action plan in a way that respects and values their contributions.
2. Lead by example in improving the lives of people living with dementia and their care partners through sustainable actions that are transparent, accountable and based on shared knowledge and experiences.
3. Raising awareness about dementia to reduce the stigma and discrimination impacting people living with dementia.
4. Providing a welcoming, socially inclusive and socially engaging environment for people living with dementia and their care partners.
5. Create an accessible and safe physical environment that supports the independence and well-being of people living with dementia, considering their specific needs and challenges.
1. People living with dementia and their care partners and families are involved in the development of this action plan in a way that respects and values their contributions.
2. Lead by example in improving the lives of people living with dementia and their care partners through sustainable actions that are transparent, accountable and based on shared knowledge and experiences.
3. Raising awareness about dementia to reduce the stigma and discrimination impacting people living with dementia.
4. Providing a welcoming, socially inclusive and socially engaging environment for people living with dementia and their care partners.
5. Create an accessible and safe physical environment that supports the independence and well-being of people living with dementia, considering their specific needs and challenges.
More information at dementia.org.au