DEMENTIA doesn’t just impact the person living with the condition and their immediate carers; it also impacts their family, friends and wider social network.
With an estimated 433,300 Australians living with dementia and 1.7 million people involved in their care, chances are you know someone who is impacted by dementia.
People living with dementia tell us that friends and family often drop away, not knowing how to interact with them once they have a diagnosis.
That’s why this Dementia Action Week (September 15 – 21) we are challenging everyone in the community to reach out and reconnect to someone impacted by dementia because nobody can do it alone.
For some practical ideas about how to reconnect, visit dementia.org.au/dementiaactionweek. For support any time, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Merran Kelsall AO, chair Dementia Australia and Ann Pietsch, chair
Dementia Australia Advisory Committee.
