The Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) has launched a new initiative to raise dementia awareness, following the success of their ‘Mind Matters’ and ‘Unpacking Dementia’ series. These educational sessions have been instrumental in elevating dementia awareness within South Australia’s Greek community.
“These exciting opportunities have been made possible thanks to Office for Ageing Well funding through the Ageing Well in CALD Communities Grants program,” said GOCSA Community Services Manager, Louise Watson.
"This funding has allowed us to launch a series of vital bilingual community sessions dedicated to brain health, empowering our members to understand and prioritise their cognitive wellbeing as they age. By actively engaging in these sessions, participants learnt how to take meaningful steps toward preserving their memories and enhancing their quality of life."
Dementia is a complex and often misunderstood disease that impacts countless lives. In Australia, there are an estimated 433,300 people living with dementia, and research has long recognised the pronounced stigma associated with dementia, particularly within Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities.
"Through this grant, we have been committed to dispelling myths and misconceptions surrounding dementia, fostering a deeper understanding within the Greek community. It’s essential to recognise that misunderstandings can lead to misinterpretations of behaviours, resulting in individuals being perceived as difficult, argumentative, or aggressive. We aim to change that narrative because dementia can happen to anybody,” Louise Watson added.
“Together we want to build a stronger, more informed community dedicated to enhancing brain health and understanding dementia."
GOCSA's ‘Unpacking Dementia’ sessions were crafted to promote awareness of dementia and the safety and wellbeing of older people in the community. The sessions covered topics such as:
- Understanding the various types of dementia
- Debunking prevalent myths about dementia
- Building connections with individuals affected by dementia
- Strategic planning for the future care needs
- Resources and supports available to the community.
These bilingual sessions were delivered in both Greek and English supported by Multicultural Aged Care Services.
The ongoing legacy of Office for Ageing Well’s grant has been the ability to support the development of a Greek Speaking Dementia Doula. With the support of the grant, GOCSA has facilitated Stamatia Karagiannakis in undertaking the Dementia Doula course delivered by Dementia Doulas International. Stami brings a personal level of lived experience into the role and is joining Louise Watson (RN), GOCSA’s Community Services Manager, in providing specialised support for families navigating the winding pathway that is dementia.
For further information on the support available to help understand and unpack the challenges of dementia, please contact the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia – Community Services on (08) 7088 0500 or Dementia Doulas Australia https://www.dementiadoulas.org.au/contact.