Stepping out for dementia

ALZHEIMERS Gisborne will host a memory walk on Sunday aiming to bring the community together to raise awareness for dementia.

The memory walk in Gisborne is one of 20 walks being held in towns and cities throughout New Zealand in September as a part of World Alzheimer’s Month.

Alzheimers Gisborne manager, Janet Willson said they were looking forward to a good response from the community.

“We want to make this year’s memory walk the first of many," she said.

"We’ve pulled out all the stops and registrations are coming in quickly. The community is enthusiastic to get out there and bring more awareness to dementia, which is encouraging for us.”

Alzheimers NZ chief executive, Catherine Hall, said the memory walks are a great way to raise awareness of the dementia challenge New Zealand faces.

“Dementia is one NZ’s most significant and growing health challenges, with over 60,000 kiwis currently living with the condition,” Ms Hall said.

“Memory walks allow the community to show their support for people with dementia and their families, friends and care partners. They’re also a time for us to remember the people we know or have known with dementia.”

An estimated 60,000 New Zealanders live with dementia now and the number ia forecast to increase to 170,000 by 2050. This increase is predicted to cost the country nearly $5 billion a year.

Everyday impactsMs Hall said even though dementia is one of NZ’s most significant healthcare and social service challenges, there is very little discussion or acknowledgement of its everyday impacts.

“Most people with dementia live in our communities," she said.

"They shop, work, eat out, catch the bus, go to the library and do everything else we all enjoy doing.”

To make a difference to the lives of people living with dementia Alzheimers NZ and local Alzheimers organisations have adopted a ‘Dementia-friendly NZ’ as their mission.

“We want New Zealand to be an open and inclusive society, a place where people with dementia feel valued and safe, and where they can contribute to and participate in their communities. Memory walks are an important part of raising more awareness about dementia in our communities,” Ms Hall said.

The Gisborne participants will meet at 10am on Sunday September 24 at the Lawson Field Theatre Rose Gardens.

Go to alzheimers.org.nz/memorywalk to register.