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Dementia resources and useful contacts
The National Dementia Helpline (operated through Alzheimer’s Australia)
This 24-hour helpline is your first point of contact for services in your area providing dementia information and education as well as support groups and counselling. You can call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.
Living with Memory Loss information and support groups
These groups, run through Alzheimer’s Australia, are specifically designed for people in the early stage of dementia as well as their family members, carers and friends. In these groups participants have an opportunity to:
- receive valuable information
- have questions answered
- talk confidentially with others in a similar situation
- discuss experiences and express feelings in a safe environment
- focus on maintaining and enhancing skills and abilities, and
For more information about these groups visit Alzheimer’s Australia or call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.
Carer Education and Workforce Training project
This project provides accredited national education and training for carers and respite workers caring for people with dementia. Call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or the Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre 1800 242 636 for more information.
Carers Australia
Carers Australia represents carers of people with a disability, mental illness, chronic condition or those who are frail aged by providing information, support, education, training and counselling.
Legal support
Solicitors, state or territory guardianship authorities, public advocate or public trustees' offices can provide information about legal matters regarding power of attorney or guardianship issues.
Read more: Legal issues for people with dementia
Centrelink
Centrelink can provide information on financial help for carers on 13 27 17 or 13 12 02 (for multilingual information).
People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
The Australian Multicultural Foundation and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology have developed a dementia resource for home-based carers of people with dementia from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. It provides information using non-technical terms and is available in a number of community languages – English, Cantonese, Greek, Italian, Maltese, Polish, Russian, Turkish, and Vietnamese. You can obtain copies of these audiotapes from the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.
There are also services specially designed to meet your needs, including your spiritual, dietary and recreational needs. For example, this might involve providing culturally appropriate meals, or arranging an interpreter when you have an assessment.
For more information about culturally appropriate services, contact your Commonwealth Carelink Centre on 1800 052 222.
Short-term care
Respite services can help you take a break, for a few hours or a few days, by supplying a trained person to provide support at home or your local day care centre.
Read more: About short-term care
Fact sheets and booklets
You can receive information on dementia, including help sheets and updates on topics related to dementia, reading and video lists, information on support groups and the latest news on research and treatment modes by calling the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. Help sheets can also be obtained from your local Alzheimer’s Australia or by calling the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.
Another useful booklet Living with Dementia has been produced by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs to provide information and support for people with dementia. The booklet includes advice on:
- being diagnosed with dementia
- looking after your health
- looking after how you feel
- managing with memory loss, and
- driving.
Further information: HealthInsite
The government website, HealthInsite, is also a useful resource on all health matters, including dementia.
Where to get further information and help:
- Commonwealth Carelink centres – 1800 052 222
- Commonwealth Carer Resource centres – 1800 242 636
- Commonwealth Carer Respite centres – 1800 059 059
- The National Dementia Helpline – 1800 100 500
- Alzheimer’s Australia – national office (02) 6254 4233
- Carers Australia – national office (02) 6282 7886
Veterans' Affairs Network
The Veterans' Affairs Network (VAN) is an information service set up by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to promote the independence and wellbeing of members of the veteran community in their local environment. VAN's role is to:
- provide information about DVA pensions and allowances, as well as information about health care eligibility
- provide up-to-date information and advice on the health and support services available through DVA and the community
- work with local service providers to ensure that veterans and war widows/widowers have access to appropriate services, and
- work with community agencies to develop programs to meet the needs of veterans, war widows/widowers and their dependants.
You can call the nearest VAN office on 1300 551 918.
DVA Fact sheets
The DVA has fact sheets available on over 300 topics of relevance to veterans, war widows/widowers, their dependants, families and carers. Fact sheets are also available from the DVA website.
