Dementia – A little support makes a big difference

Everyone’s relationship with dementia is different. You, or someone you know, might be living with dementia, or maybe you’re noticing your memory isn’t what it used to be and you’re thinking about having an assessment. With over 472,000 Australians living with dementia and almost 1.6 million Australians involved in their care, dementia deserves your attention.

Thankfully, through medical advancements and research our greater understanding of this neurological condition means that, as a community, we are better positioned to identify early signs of dementia to live a normal and fulfilling life.

In keeping with the Dementia Action Week’s theme of A little support makes a big difference, CatholicCare would like to share some valuable tips for people with dementia and their family members:

1. Keeping your heart, body and mind in good condition. You can do this through regular check-ups with your GP, by maintaining a healthy diet, through daily physical activity, socialising and keeping the brain active.
2. Understand it is a journey that requires planning, from diagnosis of the different forms of dementia through to the approach you will take to manage on a daily basis.
3. Access information and support to help you understand a diagnosis and cope with changes in behaviour.
   
   Dementia Australia is a comprehensive and trustworthy resource. It includes material for people from diverse backgrounds, fact sheets in 50 different languages, toolkits, guides, and a directory of helpful information. Visit Dementia Australia

CatholicCare Home Care and Dementia Australia believe that the best results occur through a team approach in supporting someone with Dementia, as the demands can often be overwhelming.  If you are seeking expert private care or are registered for Home Care Support, contact our friendly Home Care Team to discuss on 13 18 19.