Dementia is a brain condition. It’s not a normal part of ageing. Learn more about what dementia is, its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and support.
- Dementia is the second leading cause of death of Australians and the leading cause of death for women. Dementia is the leading cause of disease burden for those over 65 years
- It’s estimated that 411,100 Australians were living with dementia in 2023, including an estimated 27,800 people with younger onset dementia (below the age of 65)¹
Dementia Action Week 2024
As part of Dementia Action Week 2024 (16-22 September), Healthy North Coast is supporting some community events, including a Dementia Awareness Session in Bellingen on 19 September, by providing copies of our Living with dementia on the North Coast booklet.
We are also sponsoring the Brain Health in Sport Seminar by the Greater Port Macquarie Dementia Friendly Alliance and the Dementia Inclusive Ballina Annual Symposium.
About the ‘Living with dementia on the North Coast’ booklet
Healthy North Coast has worked with people living with dementia, their families, and local service providers to develop this information booklet that helps connect with local and national supports along their journey.
Highly regarded by a range of professionals supporting those on or starting the dementia journey, the booklet includes commonly asked questions for people to ask their GP and/or specialist.
The Healthy North Coast resource ‘Living with Dementia on the North Coast’ is one of the best resources I have seen on this important topic.
While there are many good dementia resources available, few put it into such a clear step by step, patient, carer and family centred format. What really sets this resource aside though, is that the information has been completely localised with support services and contact information listed and available for the local area.
Many healthcare resources are good general resources, but then the patient, carer or family will need to do more of their own research, often very time consuming and at a high stress time, to then find the services and supports available to them in their local area.
This booklet removes the need to go searching and finding that information based on where you live. This greatly improves the chances that the patient, carer or family will then access these services.Kirsty Blades, CEO Palliative Care NSW
Further information
- Learn more about Dementia Action Week and how you can get involved.
- The Project’s interview with Pam Eade, an excellent interview about early onset dementia and the importance of advance care planning.
- The National Dementia Hotline is available 24/7 on 1800 100 500.
¹ AIHW (2023), Prevalence of dementia, Dementia in Australia, aihw.gov.au, accessed September 2024.