Bupa Eden residents put their best foot forward in the fight against dementia on Thursday, participating in their second annual Memory Walk event.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Inclement weather unfortunately cut the event short for some, but a group of residents continued for the full distance, setting off from the aged care facility and going down Barclay Street to Aslings Beach.
Immediately after the walk, the facility had raised $430, but were anticipating a higher final total, with some donations still to be collected.
“This is our second Memory Walk, and it’s something that we feel is very important,” Bupa Eden general manager Peta Bentley said.
“It’s never too early or too late to start thinking about dementia.
“Sadly, there still is a lot of stigma when it comes to people living with dementia, when actually, people with the disease can lead meaningful and engaging lives.
“By getting to know the person living with dementia as an individual, we can help them live longer, healthier, happier lives.
“Our Memory Walk is a step in the right direction, to end dementia stigma, and promote dementia-friendly communities.”
Residents were accompanied by students from Eden Marine High School, who visit the nursing home for an hour each week as part of a new program that began at the start of the current school term.
“The program with the school is a new thing that we’ve started doing this term,” Ms Bentley said.
“Each student has been buddied up with a resident, and they spend an hour a week together and help each other with little things; one of our residents is teaching a student how to crochet.
“It’s something the residents really look forward to, because a lot of them don’t have family nearby.
“It gives them some companionship, and I think it’s also great for the students because they get to see that it’s not a bad thing to live in a nursing home.”
Following Thursday’s walk, Alzheimer’s Australia NSW dementia adviser Samantha Joyce spoke to residents about five simple strategies to maximise brain health.
The strategy involves looking after your heart, participating in physical activity, mentally challenging the brain, following a healthy diet and enjoying social activities.
“Alzheimer’s Australia has a long-standing relationship with Bupa, and it’s great to see Bupa Eden hosting a Memory Walk and being proactive about dementia,” Ms Joyce said.
“It’s really important to follow those steps, and the Memory Walk is one part of it as it promotes physical and social activity.
“Mentally challenging your brain can be as easy as doing a Sudoku puzzle or a jigsaw, or even just brushing your teeth with the opposite hand occasionally.
“They’re very easy steps to follow, but very important for your health.”