05.08.01. Are there initiatives to improve the accessibility of the physical and social environment, including people with dementia? If so, which of these dimensions do they cover? | South Africa

05.08.01. Are there initiatives to improve the accessibility of the physical and social environment, including people with dementia? If so, which of these dimensions do they cover? | South Africa

14 Aug 2022

The South African government has adopted initiatives to create enabling environments for persons with disabilities, for example, it has built environments, other infrastructures, assistive technologies as well as policies and laws in place to facilitate their socio-economic development. However, these initiatives are currently not dementia specific. Initiatives that include persons living with dementia stem from the NGO-sector, for example, a Memory Café was established in the Hout Bay area (near Cape Town) to create a safe, welcoming space for persons living with dementia This initiative is responding to a need to create social opportunities for persons living with dementia and their families and it hosts sessions that aim to listen, provide support and share ideas about increasing the inclusivity of public spaces (see article on radio talk held on Cape Talk on 10 April 2019 and listen to podcast at http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/344420/new-cape-town-cafe-spot-a-safe-space-for-people-living-with-dementia).