Finding joy through dementia care in Beenleigh
7 September 2026
When Daniela Russo speaks to carers of people living with dementia, her message is simple: try not to let frustration take over. Instead, where possible, look for moments of humour, connection and joy.
It is an approach shaped by personal experience. A cognitive therapist, gerontologist and dementia care advocate, Dani lost her own mother to dementia in Brazil after years of searching for answers and treatments.
The Logan local has since spoken openly about wishing she’d spent more time simply enjoying those final years with her mum, rather than focusing solely on trying to make her well.
Daniela's work today centres on supporting both people living with dementia and the loved ones caring for them.
‘Dementia is incredibly challenging, but if we only focus on what's been lost, we miss the opportunities for connection that still exist,’ Dani says.
‘I tell families that sometimes the best thing you can do is laugh together. Humour lowers stress, brings people closer and helps us save our energy for the things that really matter.’
That philosophy is making a difference at the free Dementia Café held at Beenleigh's Your Lifestyle Centre.
Here carers and people living with dementia gather for friendship, practical support and a chance to share their experiences.
ABOVE: At her free Dementia Cafe, Daniela Russo encourages carers of people with dementia to try to laugh as much as they can instead of just surviving the illness.
Dani's approach aligns with her belief that dementia care must include carers as well as the person with the diagnosis.
Through her work she advocates for treating the whole family impacted by dementia, not just the individual living with the condition.
Among the regulars at the Beenleigh Dementia Café are local couple Doreen and John.
Doreen has attended the sessions for the past 2 years and says the support has transformed daily life.
‘Before coming here, I often felt very alone,’ Doreen says.
‘People would tell me to be patient, but they didn't understand what it was really like. Dani understands. She's given me practical strategies, confidence and permission to enjoy life again.’
John lives with advanced dementia, but Dani says his story highlights why it's important to focus on abilities rather than limitations. Despite significant memory loss, John can still crochet.
‘When John picks up a crochet hook, something remarkable happens,’ Dani says.
‘He learned that skill as a little boy, and those deeply embedded memories remain. Dementia doesn't erase a person's identity. Sometimes we just need to find different ways to access it.’
At the café, John often works on crochet projects while chatting with other participants.
‘It's amazing to watch,’ Doreen says. ‘There are days when John struggles to remember recent events, but he can sit down and crochet beautifully. Dani helped us recognise that those skills were still there.’
ABOVE: John lives with dementia but thanks to Daniela Russo, he's been able to unlock a childhood memory of crochet.
Helping people reconnect with lifelong interests and strengths is a key part of Dani's work. Whether it's gardening, music, sewing, painting or crochet, she encourages families to look beyond the diagnosis.
‘We spend so much time focusing on what people can't do,’ Dani says.
‘I want families to discover what they still can do. There is so much dignity, purpose and happiness in those moments.’
Doreen says Dani’s approach has made a world of difference to their lives.
‘She's helped me understand John's dementia, but she's also helped me look after myself. The café feels like family,’ Doreen says.
The Beenleigh Dementia Café offers a welcoming environment where carers can ask questions, share challenges and connect with people facing similar experiences.
For many, it has become a vital source of support and understanding, and Dani hopes more Logan families will reach out and access the services available throughout the city.
‘No one should walk this journey alone,’ Dani says.
‘There is support, there is community and there is still joy to be found. Dementia changes life, but it doesn't end the possibility of meaningful moments.’
The free Dementia Café runs on the last Friday of every month from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at Your Lifestyle Centre in Beenleigh.
To learn more about this and other low-cost events, visit YLC Beenleigh or call 3287 1477.
PHOTO AT TOP: Daniela Russo, left, with Beenleigh local Doreen who attends her free Dementia Cafe at Beenleigh's Your Lifestyle Centre on the last Friday of each month.