Theme 3

Health communication and dementia literacy

Dementia is a complex and ever-changing condition. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with dementia intersect with numerous health, community and aged care services, making dementia literacy of utmost importance, not only for each individual but also for their families and communities. There is an ongoing lack of knowledge about how dementia occurs and how it can be prevented; a desire for communities to learn how best to communicate with and support the older person living with dementia and their families; and a need for best-practice approaches for health service providers and health professionals to communicate effectively with the person and their family about dementia. Health communication and dementia literacy frameworks need to extend beyond the biomedical approach and reflect holistic wellbeing and collective approaches.

Theme 3 of the OnTRACK program aims to enhance dementia literacy and health communication based on the needs and preferences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at risk of or living with dementia, their carers and families.

Theme 3's  project, Optimising Health Communication and Dementia Literacy in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities  seeks to:

1. Understand effective health communication and dementia literacy-raising strategies for primary care services providing care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
2. Develop and assess community awareness-raising resources aiming to improve community knowledges of cognitive impairment and dementia prevention/risk and management;
3. Develop a framework that incorporates culturally appropriate approaches to support dementia literacy and health communication;
4. Develop a resource package to inform primary health care services and communities about best-practice approaches to developing dementia literacy.