A MORNING tea to be held in Nelson Bay next week is set to help the community twofold.
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Money raised from the event will help the Tomaree Community Hospital Auxiliary to continue the work it does – buy equipment for the Nelson Bay hospital – and residents who head along will learn more about dementia.
September is Dementia Awareness Month, a fact the auxiliary was well aware of when it was looking to organise its next fund-raising event.
The auxiliary has enlisted the services of Laetitia Pienaar, a doctor from Soldiers Point Medical Centre, and Jaci Richards, a clinical neuropsychologist from the Mater Hospital in Newcastle, who will talk about different aspects of dementia at the morning tea.
“After a talk with Dr Pienaar, the auxiliary decided that one of our fund-raisers this year would be a morning tea and a talk on dementia,” Pauline Faucett, president of the auxiliary, said.
Dr Pienaar spoke at the auxiliary’s fund-raising event last year, which focused on women’s health. She said was happy to return this year, with a friend, to talk about dementia.
Ms Richards will talk about the management side of dementia while Dr Pienaar will speak about the medical side to the disease, such as causes and latest research.
According to Alzheimer’s Australia, as of February 2016 there are more than 353,800 Australians living with dementia. Dementia is the single greatest cause of disability in Australians aged 65 years or older and, nationwide, an estimated 1.2 million people are involved in the care of a person living with dementia.
“It is so prevalent,” Dr Pienaar said.
“Not everyone who has memory loss has dementia, but the rate people are being diagnosed with dementia, it’s truly increasing.”
The morning tea will be held at the community hall in Norburn Avenue, Nelson Bay from 10am on September 15. All members of the community are invited to attend.
The cost is $10 per person, which is payable on entry.
With funds it has raised, the auxiliary recently bought two electric pressure care chairs, a mobile light and stand for the Nelson Bay community hospital and are furnishing the palliative care lounge.