Personal Experiences and Practical Support Shared at GreenConnect’s Dementia Action Week Morning Tea
Story by Kaye Matthews, Respite Care Coordinator Mildura
Dementia Australia Support Specialist Bertilla Campbell
A beautiful, cloudless spring day greeted GreenConnect participants at The Cottage in Mildura for our September morning tea, held during Dementia Action Week.
Thirty-three people joined us for the morning, including three care friends, our Mildura Care Coordinators and special guests who brought personal experiences, practical information and plenty to talk about.
Mildura Rural City Council Deputy Mayor Helen Healy joined the group to share her experience of caring for her mother and several aunts who lived with dementia. Helen spoke openly about her family’s strong history of dementia and how emerging research has influenced some of the lifestyle changes she has made to look after her own health and wellbeing.
Dementia Australia Support Specialist Bertilla Campbell, a familiar face at our GreenConnect gatherings, also joined us and introduced Heather, a recently appointed Dementia Advocate and volunteer.
Bertilla shared information about upcoming Seniors Festival activities and developments in Alzheimer’s research, including the new p-tau217 blood test being introduced through a specialist diagnostic centre in Sydney. She also discussed lifestyle factors that can influence brain health and overall wellbeing.
Heather spoke about her experiences as a Dementia Australia volunteer and advocate, including the importance of making elections more accessible for people living with dementia. She discussed the introduction of low-sensory voting at the upcoming Victorian state election, along with the need for greater dementia awareness among campaigners and polling booth staff.
These were particularly relevant conversations for our participants, with one person commenting:
“The information around the upcoming election and voting requirements for my loved one living with dementia was very helpful.”
As always, there was plenty of time to catch up over morning tea, with delicious food from Hudak’s Bakery and hot drinks prepared by Anthony Fotia from Curly Top Espresso.
Hearing from our carers
Among the conversations throughout the morning were some very personal reflections on the experience of caring for someone living with dementia.
One participant spoke about the importance of recognising their own needs alongside those of the person they care for:
“The information shared today again reminds me of the scale of my role as the Primary Carer. It was good to have the need for my own self-care validated.”
Another shared an experience that many partners caring for someone living with dementia may recognise:
“I realise now that when I walk through the door from my own Drs appointments, I no longer have the rich support of my partner to ask how it all went. It can be quite lonely being a partner of someone living with dementia.”
It’s a deeply personal reflection on how dementia can change everyday moments in a relationship, including the small conversations and reassurance that partners have shared for years.
Thank you to Helen, Bertilla and Heather for joining us, and to everyone who shared their experiences so openly throughout the morning.
GreenConnect: Building Community and Connection
GreenConnect is dedicated to providing meaningful, nature-based activities for individuals living with early to mid-stage dementia. Our dementia activities in nature offer participants a chance to relax, foster friendships, and enjoy a sense of belonging in a safe and supportive environment.
Get Involved with GreenConnect
GreenConnect is always looking for new business partners, accommodation providers, and care organisations to join the network. If you’re interested in supporting the project and helping provide vital services to individuals living with dementia, reach out today to learn more about how you can contribute.