Published date: 14 September 2022
September is Dementia Awareness Month with 20 September being World Alzheimer’s Day.
Spreading awareness of dementia is important. The disease impacts around 9% of Australians over 65 and 30% of Australians over 85*. The number of people living with dementia in Australia is also expected to reach almost 900,000 by 2050.
It may be that you or someone you know is already affected by dementia in some way. To mark Dementia Awareness Month, we have compiled some resources you might find useful.
Dementia resources
Webinars
There are a range of webinars on the Older Person’s Advocacy Network (OPAN) website. They include:
- Communicating with people living with dementia
Learn about how dementia can impact communication, and strategies to help communicate with a person living with dementia. - Everybody's Oma - a family's dementia journey
Hear from the creators of the dementia-focused documentary, Everybody’s Oma.
Communication resources
If you’re supporting someone who is finding communication difficult, the following resources can help:
- Communication cards in English and other languages from the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing. The cards can be used to start daily discussion and help with understanding directions and needs.
- Dementia Australia has information about managing changes in communication. This includes tips on body language, ways of talking, and what not to do when speaking to someone living with dementia.
Websites
The Dementia Australia website has resources to support people living with dementia, and those that care for them.
More information
If you would like to learn more about dementia, including information about government support for carers like the National Dementia Support Program, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care’s website.
You can also learn more about available resources through the Caring for someone living with Dementia page through My Aged Care.
*Figures published by the Department of Health and Aged Care and accurate as of 2016.
Last updated date: 14 September 2022
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