As Dementia Action Week unfolds, we are confronted with a troubling reality: almost one-third of Australians find people living with dementia frightening. This unsettling revelation, revealed in a recent survey, paints a grim picture of the challenges faced by those living with dementia and their families. Dementia Australia has responded to this alarming trend by issuing a compelling call to action, urging councils, businesses, community groups, and leaders across the nation to take immediate and decisive steps to create more dementia-friendly communities.

The statistics are stark. A decade ago, 23 percent of Australians found people living with dementia frightening. Now, that figure has risen to 32 percent. Such fear and a lack of understanding about dementia have real consequences. Research commissioned by Dementia Australia underscores this, with 80 percent of those with loved ones living with dementia reporting differential treatment in shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe AM has rightly voiced her alarm about these findings. She emphasises that the fear surrounding dementia leads to stigma and discrimination, causing profound distress to people living with dementia, their families, and caregivers. This fear can deter individuals from seeking vital medical and social support, increasingly leaving them socially isolated.

Dementia is often described as an invisible disease, and this lack of visibility contributes to the misunderstanding and apprehension surrounding it. This is a poignant reminder that what we can't see, we don't understand, and what we don't understand, we often fear.

Dementia Australia Advisory Committee Chair Bobby Redman, who lives with dementia, sheds light on how stereotypes propagated in popular culture can contribute to these misconceptions. She emphasises that knowing someone with dementia can challenge these stereotypes, highlighting the need for personal connections to foster empathy and understanding.

With an estimated 400,000 Australians currently living with dementia, the impact of this fear and stigma is felt nationwide, but there is hope. McCabe stresses that simple actions can make a significant difference. Resources and information are readily available on the Dementia Australia website to help individuals, businesses, and communities take steps toward becoming more dementia-friendly.

Creating dementia-friendly communities is not just about benefiting those living with dementia; it's about nurturing inclusive and compassionate environments that benefit everyone. It calls for a return to a time when communities cared for one another and recognised that different people have varying needs. It's a step toward making the world a better place for all.

During Dementia Action Week, Dementia Australia is sharing valuable information on its website to guide individuals and organisations in becoming more dementia-friendly. By learning, understanding, and supporting one another, we can dismantle the barriers of fear and stigma, ushering in a future that is better for everyone.

In a society that values empathy and inclusivity, let us heed the call to action and join hands to create a world that embraces and supports those living with dementia, their families, and caregivers. A dementia-friendly future is not just a dream; it's a shared responsibility and a shared opportunity to make a positive impact.