Dementia Expo comes to Dubbo for the first time

A town in the state’s central west is one step closer to becoming a “dementia-friendly” community by hosting its first expo. Read the details below.

A country town in the state’s central west is one step closer to becoming a “more dementia-friendly” community with an inaugural dementia expo to be held next week.

The Dubbo RSL Club, partnered with the Dubbo Dementia Alliance, will host the first ever free Dubbo Dementia Expo on Monday, September 16 from 2.30pm to 7pm, in its auditorium to introduce people to dementia specific services available in the town.

Visitors will also get an opportunity to become a “dementia friend” by watching a 30-minute video by Dementia Australia to learn more about the condition.

Event organiser and dementia friend Bruce McDermaid told The Dubbo News people were unaware of the specialist services Dubbo had to offer.

He said while he tried to help his brother, who is living with dementia, he did not know what services were available.

“This is to highlight the services available in Dubbo for the people living in Dubbo with dementia or their carers,” Mr McDermaid said.

Bruce McDermaid. Photo: Tijana Birdjan.

“I was overwhelmed by the local community support that I got.”

Private nursing home services, government bodies and organisations such as the National Association for Loss and Grief and Social Futures, alongside other local organisations, will be at the expo.

Mr McDermaid said the expo also secured representatives from Services Australia.

Bruce McDermaid, Megan Harrison, Lorraine Holland and Bill Bladwell. Photo: Supplied.

“Once the disease progresses, it doesn’t matter what age you are … everyone probably knows somebody with dementia, whether it’s your grandma or grandpa, mum or dad, or aunty or uncle. We can all learn to help make Dubbo a more dementia-friendly community,” Mr McDermaid said.

He said the Orana Law Society would also be present to speak about legal issues and enduring guardianships.