A public pool is at the centre of a push to make a Queensland town on the Sunshine Coast dementia-friendly.
According to Dementia Australia, some 84,000 Queenslanders currently live with the condition, but that figure is expected to rise to 100,000 by 2025.
Buderim Dementia Alliance founder Karen Posselt has been working to help those affected feel more included in the community.
"Being dementia-friendly is really just supporting people who live … with dementia, and their families, to live a high-quality life," Ms Posselt said.
"[So] they can feel comfortable to go out into the community, free from stigma."
The Buderim community pool is among the first of the town's facilities to sign on to the initiative.
"We're joining with Dementia Australia and another organisation to make our staff here more aware and our centre a little bit more friendly and user-friendly for all the residents of Buderim," manager Andy Hoffer said.
Ms Posselt said physical exercise can be of great benefit to people living with dementia.
"We know now that staying fit and staying well mentally is really important and maybe can delay the progression of dementia," she said.
"So swimming pools — and staying involved in swimming and keeping fit — are vital to the wellbeing of someone."
Small changes, big difference
Buderim resident Gail McIntyre said many in the community cannot understand how her husband, Russel, who has early onset dementia, can have difficulty paying for a meal or using a bathroom on his own.
"The government is encouraging us to care for our loved ones in the home," Mrs McIntyre said.
"Well, our philosophy is it's no use Russell being at home if we can't go out in the community.
"If the community doesn't understand the needs of people with dementia, then we can't really be part of the community."
The couple has been helping business and community groups work out what they can do to make their shops and facilities easier to access for patients and carers.
"Post-diagnosis, we always wanted to try to make a difference to help people like us," Mrs McIntyre said.
At the pool, facilities will be upgraded and signage improved to help people like Mr McIntyre use the changerooms.
"Something as simple as a sign saying, 'female carer is currently in the male facility,'" Mrs McIntyre said.
"Then the other males can choose whether they come in or not."
Dementia-friendly movement growing
There are currently about 20 designated dementia-friendly communities around Australia.
In 2014, Kiama, a coastal community 120 kilometres south of Sydney, became one of the first towns in the country to partner with Dementia Australia and trial the project.
The program is still going today and has received international recognition for its work increasing community awareness and understanding of dementia.
The McIntyres hope the dementia-friendly movement will spread to other communities.
"I think it could go everywhere, yeah," Mrs McIntyre said.
"That's what we're hoping."
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