Dementia & Alzheimer's support on the Northern Beaches & Northern Suburbs
Living with Dementia
Helpful support and advice for people living with dementia and their carers from Nurse Sarah at Just Better Care Northern Beaches and Northern Suburbs
Stage One: Early stage dementia
In mild or early-stage dementia, you might experience some changes in your thinking and memory.
You might sometimes repeat yourself, mix up words, or misplace things more than you used to.
You might struggle more in social situations, or feel less motivated.
But most people with early-stage dementia are able to support themselves. In fact, many people at this stage don’t have a diagnosis of dementia, because their changes haven’t felt worrying enough for them to get tested.
Stage Two: Middle-stage dementia
In moderate or middle-stage dementia, the changes to your mood, memory, thinking and behaviour are stronger. They have a bigger effect on your ability to do everyday things and take care of yourself.
You might have more trouble concentrating, understanding, reasoning and communicating.
You might forget how to dress or bathe, or to recognise family and friends.
You might experience confusion, distress, mood changes and aggression.
These stronger changes mean you will likely need support from other people, at home and in the community.
Stage Three: Late-stage dementia
In severe or late-stage dementia, your symptoms will be very strong. You may be unable to communicate, walk, control your bodily functions or look after your hygiene. You may be unable to remember people or places, and be unable to form new memories.
At this stage, people living with dementia will require constant supervision and care such as in a specialised aged care facility with professional support and monitoring
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Increasing awareness and understanding of dementia on the Northern Beaches
The Northern Beaches Dementia Alliance (NBDA) was formed in August 2018. It consists of aged care, dementia and healthcare professionals as well as community members, people living with dementia and their carers.
The partnership includes Northern Beaches Council, Sydney North Health Network, Just Better Care Northern Beaches and Northern Suburbs and Proveda .
Treatment and management of dementia
There are many different treatments and ways to manage dementia. There’s no known cure for dementia yet. But there are treatments to help you live the best life you can.
If you are diagnosed with dementia, your doctor and a specialist, like a neurologist, psychogeriatrician, geriatrician or psychiatrist, will usually be involved in prescribing medications for you.
There is currently no known medication that can cure dementia. But medication can treat some of the symptoms that come with different forms of dementia. They can also help with some of the conditions that come along with dementia, like anxiety and sleep problems.
The future of dementia treatment
Trials are in progress assessing benefits of an Alzheimer’s vaccine (having a component of the amyloid protein found in plaques), inhibitors of the enzymes that produce amyloid and therapies using nerve growth factor. These approaches may prove to be effective, but much more work is needed.
Researchers around the world are working to develop effective treatments for dementia, and eventually to find a cure. Much of this work is focussed on Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.
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Dementia Training Australia (DTA)
All Just Better Care team members who support customers and their families living with dementia undertake education and training from DTA.
DTA combines the expertise of four universities to deliver a coordinated national approach to dementia training for individuals and organisations.
Support and respite for family and carers living with dementia
As a carer, supporting a person with dementia to wash, bathe and dress can be emotionally and physically challenging and looking after a person’s personal care can be a big step in your caring role. It is common to need extra emotional and practical support at this stage.
Just Better Care, support customers and their family with travel and transport services, personal care, meal preparation, medication management, respite support for carers as well as intensive 24-hour care, in-home nursing and palliative care.
Dementia Australia
Dementia Australia are the national peak body supporting people living with dementia. They are committed to achieving a dementia-friendly Australia where people with dementia are respected, supported, empowered, and engaged in community life.
For more information visit their website or call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.
Just Better Care acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. We also acknowledge the diversity of Australian culture and extend our support to all individuals, regardless of culture or sexuality.