Fight to end stigma around dementia

On the northern shore of the sparkling turquoise Ouyen Lake, there is a small plot filled with purple-flowered plants. Their blossoms and lush foliage stand in contrast to the orange dirt of the Mallee. This tranquil spot is Ouyen’s Dementia Community Garden. Lucy Bain visited to find out more about how the Ouyen community is fighting to end stigma around dementia. Pictures: Carmel Zaccone.

OUYEN’S Dementia Community Garden was opened in September last year, as part of Mallee Track Health and Community Service’s (MTHCS) ongoing push to remove stigma around dementia in the town.

The garden has become a place for people to bring their loved ones who are battling the disease, or to remember those they have lost. 

In the six months since the garden was opened, it had already started breaking down barriers.

“It’s created a talking point that has helped with the stigma around dementia and the social isolation that occurs because of the condition,” MTHCS social services coordinator Nadine Lynch says.

“It’s become an ownership of the community so if they own it they love it and they keep it flourishing. It’s created a nice wraparound for members of the community who are experiencing dementia, especially families and carers, who are very much at times forgotten in the whole process.”

Lorraine Shaddock was one of those carers.

Her husband, Harry, passed away last year after battling dementia for several years.

For Lorraine, the dementia garden provides a place to remember her husband and a way to speak to others about the impact the disease had on her life.

“Your life is just stolen,” she says. 

“(The garden) is a way to help people understand that it is a lonely life and a lonely journey and your life is turned upside-down.”

Throughout her husband’s dementia ordeal and the aftermath of his death, Lorraine says it was her community, especially staff at MTHCS, who kept her going.

“I wouldn’t have gotten through to where I am today without them,” she explains. “We’re tough Mallee people and we’re surrounded by a community that is just amazing. We’re so blessed.”

As a breeze rippled the surface of the lake, flowers bobbed in the garden.

The garden’s purple theme was chosen to stand out – and it does.

“I just find it a cheerful colour and it’s a warm colour,” says MTHCS leisure and lifestyle activity worker Vanessa Marks.

“We picked that colour because it’s bright. The colour of dementia is actually a teal colour, but we thought that was a little bit bland and you can’t get teal flowers. We picked purple because there’s a lot of purple flowers and it can be seen from a long way away.”

Community spirit, too, is shining bright. 

Since the garden opened, Ouyen’s community has come together more than ever to keep it flourishing.

“It’s made an awareness in the community about what we’re doing,” Vanessa says. 

“It’s reaching people we normally wouldn’t be able to. Hopefully we can turn things around and the stigma of dementia in our town will be a lot less.”

“It’ll grow and it’ll keep growing, because there’s a lot of community members who look after it, water it and nurture it. It’s become important to all of us to keep the garden beautiful.”