About Dementia-Friendly Communities
Dementia Australia’s Dementia-Friendly Communities program informs and supports people who want to collaborate with people living with dementia to create communities where everyone can participate.
A dementia-friendly future is possible
In 2025 there are an estimated 433,300 Australians living with dementia and an estimated 1.7 million people involved in their care.
Two-thirds of Australians with dementia live in communities that could better support their ability to live independently for as long as possible.
Friendlier communities for everyone
People living with dementia tell us they want to continue contributing to their communities.
By increasing understanding of dementia and providing a little support, communities make practical, tangible changes that transform the lives of people living with dementia for the better and create welcoming places where everyone, regardless of their cognitive health, can participate.
Collaborating for change
Since 2013, the Dementia-Friendly Communities program has helped thousands of Australians to collaborate with people living with dementia at a grass roots level to improve accessibility, connectedness and inclusion to the places and activities they want to engage with.
That's why the Dementia-Friendly Communities program exists: to encourage and support people and organisations to collaborate with people living with dementia to create thriving communities for everyone.
Keys to a Dementia-Friendly Community
Learn
Collaborate
Act
Dementia-Friendly Communities goals
The Dementia Friendly Communities program is all about bringing people together to make a difference. It aims to:
Raise awareness
When people learn about dementia and hear the voices of people living with dementia, discrimination and stigma in the community can be reduced.
Foster inclusion
Collaborating to support people living with dementia to feel included and able to participate helps them stay as active as they can in the community, using frameworks like Dementia Australia's ALICE.
Encourage collaboration
When businesses, organisations and individuals collaborate with people living with dementia, everyone can work together to achieve change.
Empower communities
Awareness, inclusion and true collaboration, supported by the Dementia-Friendly Communities program, gives communities the power to build dementia-friendly communities where everyone benefits.
Join the movement
By becoming a Dementia Friend, you’ll be joining thousands of people like you, collaborating with people living with dementia to make your community more dementia friendly. It’s easy to become a Dementia Friend today.
More Dementia-Friendly things to do
- Dementia-Friendly Community directory
People like you are making their communities more friendly for people living with dementia. Find a Dementia-Friendly Community near you, or get inspired to start your own.
- Dementia-Friendly Community events
Find Dementia-Friendly Community events near you.
- Dementia-Friendly Community stories
Read how people, community groups, businesses and organisations are collaborating with people living with dementia to make their communities more dementia-friendly.