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Dementia

Relevant dementia programs and initiatives.

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About Dementia

Dementia is the term used to describe the symptoms of a large group of illnesses, which cause a progressive decline in the ability to remember, to think, and to learn. Alzheimer's disease is the most common of these, accounting for around 70% of all dementia. Dementia affects the functioning of the brain, often leading to personality changes. Although dementia mainly affects older people, it is not a normal part of ageing.

For more information on dementia symptoms and treatment go to www.alzheimers.org.au

What help is available for a person with dementia, their families and carers?

Only a doctor can formally make a diagnosis of dementia. If a person has been diagnosed with dementia, they or their family and friends can access a range of Australian Government services that will provide them with information, advice, support, counselling, education and training and referral services.

National Dementia Support Program

The National Dementia Support Program is funded by the Australian Government to provide a range of targeted dementia services to assist people with dementia and/or their carers. The program focuses on the provision of information, counselling, education and training and is delivered by Alzheimer's Australia. These services can be accessed through the National Dementia Helpline (Freecall 1800 100 500).

Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Services

Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Services (DBMAS) will be established in all states and territories in 2007 to improve the quality of care for people accessing Australian Government aged care services and where the behaviour of the person with dementia impacts on their care. This will be achieved by improving the dementia care capacity of aged care workers, service providers and carers. DBMAS provide support for residential care staff and carers in the community through expert diagnosis, assessment, advice and support.

DBMAS will provide:

• assessment and diagnosis support;
• clinical advice on managing behaviours that impact on care;
• clinical supervision and mentoring of carers and care staff;
• short term case management, including crisis management;
• management of brokerage funds to provide short term direct services;
• tailored information and education workshops;
• support and advice via telephone, email and other communication mechanisms; and
• liaison and referral to other services, particularly specialist services.

For more information contact the Department of Health and Ageing on (02) 62897675 or for the Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service line Phone: 1800 699 799
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Dementia Training Study Centres

There are four Dementia Training Study Centres which each work with partner stakeholders and external stakeholders to develop and promote dementia studies in Australian graduate and undergraduate health curriculum and provide career pathways in tertiary dementia studies. For more information on the centres go to:
The Eastern Australia Dementia Training and Study Centre http://dementia.uow.edu.au
The Victorian and Tasmanian Dementia Training Study Centres http://www.timefordementia.org
The South Australia and Northern Territory Dementia Training Study Centre http://www.santdtsc.edu.au
WA Dementia Training Study Centre http://www.cra.curtin.edu.au

Dementia Care Essentials

Seven organisations will provide dementia training for almost 17,000 aged care workers over the next three years. Approximately 5,100 aged care workers have already been trained, with a further 15,000 workers to be trained over the next two years.
Contact details for training providers are:

State/ Territory	Organisation	Contact Name	Phone
NSW ACT	Hammond Care Group	Richard Fleming	02 9825 5080
VIC	Alzheimer's Australia VIC	Diana Fitzgerald	03 9816 5754
QLD	King's International	Jenni Pickrell	07 5593 4386 0407 676 042
SA	RDNS Education Centre	Di Wickett	08 8208 5350
NT	Alzheimer's Australia NT	Catherine Zlatnik	08 8948 5228
WA	Aged and Community Services WA	John Ham	08 9244 8233
TAS	Esset Australia	Adelle Williams	03 6234 4578

Dementia Collaborative Research Centres

The Dementia Collaborative Research Centres aim to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers through research involving key Australian ageing and dementia researchers, service providers and consumers.

Three Dementia Collaborative Research Centres have been established with a focus on different areas of research:

• Assessment and better care outcomes – led by the University of New South Wales
• Early intervention, prevention and risk reduction – led by the Australian National University
• Consumers, carers and social research – led by the Queensland University of Technology

The projects being undertaken by the three Centres include pre-clinical diagnosis, general practitioner assessment, best use of neuro-imaging, nursing care, and palliative care.

A further aspect is to encourage and support emerging researchers into the dementia field through the provision of scholarships and post-doctoral fellowships.

For more information please contact Rosi Benninghaus on 02 93859058 or go to www.dementia.unsw.edu.au

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Fact sheets and booklets

You can receive information on dementia, including help sheets and updates on topics related to dementia, by calling the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. Help sheets can also be obtained by calling the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853 or by ordering via: Aged Care Publications - Ordering Information

Dementia Learning Resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities

The provision of appropriate dementia resources and aged care services for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders is a Government priority.

Under the Dementia Initiative, Alzheimer's Australia was funded to update a dementia training resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The 'Dementia Learning Resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities' is a kit of resources and materials designed to be used for preparation and delivery of awareness raising and information sessions, and educational and training programs.

The resource contains:

• a facilitator’s guide, which underpins the learning resource;
• a flip chart presentation;
• brochures about memory and dementia;
• a poster to raise awareness and/or promote education and training sessions;
• participant materials and assessment items;
• an Evaluation feedback form and;
• a CD-Rom which includes all materials for facilitators.

To obtain a copy of the resource, please email: dementia@health.gov.au
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