Participants take part in a previous Rementia Together Retreat. Photo: Supplied.
Rementia Together Retreat is calling on Illawarra and South Coast residents living with dementia and their carers to join a transformative five-day program in Berry this November that focuses on hope beyond diagnosis.
It will be the third government-funded live-in Berry retreat run by Videri Australia, previously Group Homes Australia, providing a unique opportunity for couples and family members affected by early onset dementia to connect, learn, and find joy.
Berry was chosen for the first retreat last year due to demand in the area and Dementia Australia statistics, which show dementia rates in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven expected to increase 55 per cent by 2054 – 4 per cent more than the national average.
Rementia Together Retreat offers 10 free spots for those with a dementia diagnosis and their carer in a bid to equip them with the support required to navigate life after a dementia diagnosis.
With the retreat repositioning “dementia” (to be “away from the mind” in Latin) to “rementia” (to “return to the mind” in Latin), retreat lead Maxine Radus said the program was about providing hope beyond a diagnosis, fostering a sense of optimism and possibilities.
“Participants have reported they’ve never laughed so much or connected with others with such ease,” she said.
“The space is safe and so they feel they’re not alone in this journey.
“They also maintain those relationships post retreat, which is really important because it just alleviates that deeply alienating and marginalised experience that many people have.
“One of the participants said, ‘I couldn’t get myself out of the Alzheimer’s and now I’ve found myself again.’”
She said that illustrated how important stepping outside of the diagnosis was and equipping them with the emotional, psychological and mental skills to understand the diagnosis and live well with dementia – rather than feeling they had reached an end.
“It is about learning to first accept and adapt to the diagnosis, but also understand that to live without hope is possibly the most terrifying component that people are faced with,” she said.
“It’s very important to understand that people have choices and that hope becomes quite an essential theme to support their lives.
“When we get curious, then the brain starts to fire in different ways, and the retreat offers an opportunity for people to get curious.
“The minute we become interested in the world outside of ourselves, suddenly our relationship to the world is shifted.
“But when we become completely consumed by our diagnosis in ourselves, then we tend to lose interest and withdraw from the world.”
Maxine said the retreat featured expert-led sessions on topics such as understanding dementia, communicating well, sexuality and intimacy, food and mood, brain health and finances.
She said the retreat also offered creative experiential opportunities for cognitive function, with the previous retreats including art, music and even simply sitting around the fire listening to music while bonding.
“The evidence is showing that being able to tap into opportunities of respite restores people to be able to give them what they need along their journey without making drastic decisions of moving into care,” she said.
Fully funded by the Australian Government, accommodation, food and all retreat inclusions are at no cost to participants.
To apply, participants must have a diagnosis of dementia, come as a couple, and the person living with dementia must consent.
Rementia Together Retreat will be held from 3-7 November and those interested can contact Maxine Radus on 0405 274 563 or visit the website.
