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Help for people living at home with dementia

There are many organisations that support people with dementia, their carers and family. This part of our website tells you about the helplines, networks, support groups and other services available, as well as introducing you to a wide range of community care programs that you may be able to access.

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The National Dementia Helpline

Everyone has a bad day now and then, but if you’re worried that you’re becoming increasingly forgetful, or you know someone who is, ring the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. This service offers information, advice, counselling and referral to a range of support services that can assist.

Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres

Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres provide a point of contact for the general public, carers, service providers, general practitioners and other health professionals to access information on carer support and respite services. Phone 1800 200 422 during business hours, or for emergency respite support outside standard business hours, call 1800 059 059.

Dementia & Memory Community Centres(DMCC)

These community drop-in centres provide a range of information, support activities and social services to people with dementia as well as their carers and family. If you go along to one of these centres you should have access to experts on dementia, support groups, web-based information, chat rooms, library services, training sessions and workshops on memory, as well as activities such as art therapy, exercise and one-to-one counselling. You can call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 for more information on this service run by Alzheimer's Australia.

Early intervention & support programs

There is a range of programs for people with dementia, such as the Living with Memory Loss Program, which offers support to people with early-stage dementia as well as their carers and family via structured training and support groups. This program can provide advice on getting your affairs in order and coping with the changes that dementia brings, as well putting you in touch with a range of other services. You can call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 for more information on programs run by Alzheimer’s Australia,

Non-clinical advice, counselling & professional support

People with dementia, their carers and family can access one-on-one counselling through the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. This service is also available to people who are concerned about the risk of developing dementia.

Education & training programs

Carers of people with dementia as well as professional respite workers can access specialised, accredited training in dementia care that meets workplace needs. Contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 for more information.

Awareness raising & information activities

There’s a lot of government information available for people with dementia and their carers, which you can download for free:


You can also call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 if you’re interested in more information about National Dementia Awareness Week held in September each year.
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Support for special needs groups

The government caters for the needs and activities of special populations such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people in rural and remote areas, younger people with dementia, and socially disadvantaged people. Call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. For further information on aged care call 1800 200 422.

The Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Services (DBMAS)

This service offers people with dementia and their carers support in managing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, such as wandering and aggression. DBMAS provides clinical assessment, short-term case management, crisis management and referrals to other relevant services. The service is responsive to individual and diverse needs and circumstances, and can be accessed by staff of government subsidised aged care services, other clinicians, volunteers and family carers.

For clinical support, information and advice contact 1800 699 799 (24 hours a day).

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs

A useful booklet, Living with Dementia has been produced by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to provide information and support for people with dementia. The booklet includes advice on the following topics:
what to do if you’ve been diagnosed with dementia


You can download your free copy from the Department of Veterans' Affairs website.
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Alzheimer’s Australia

Alzheimer's Australia receives government funding and delivers a wide range of services and activities to people living with dementia, their carers and family. They provide lots of information you may find helpful, including help sheets and updates on topics related to dementia as well as reading and video lists, information on support groups and the latest news on research and treatments.

For more information contact the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500.

Community care programs for people with dementia

You can also receive care such as home help, personal care or therapy through a range of government funded programs such as the Home and Community Care program (HACC) more information , Community Aged Care Packages (CACP) more information , Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH more information and EACH Dementia more information ) packages, day therapy centres more information and aged care homes. More information on all of these programs is provided below.

Home & Community Care (HACC) program

When you need some basic help at home, the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program can meet your needs, providing you with maintenance and support services that promote your independence at home and in the community. You don’t need a government assessment to benefit from this service.
Read more: About the Home & Community Care Program

Community Aged Care Packages (CACP)

This program provides a planned and managed package of community care for you if you have complex low-level care needs but can still live in your own home. To be eligible to receive a package you must be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) more information .
Read more: About Community Aged Care Packages

Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH)

Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) is a program that provides high-level care at home if you need more assistance than a Community Aged Care Package can provide. EACH packages are also individually planned and coordinated.
Read more: About Extended Aged Care at Home

Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACHD)

If you or someone you care for needs assistance because of behavioural problems associated with dementia, including periods of changes in behaviour or other disturbances, the Extended Aged Care at Home – Dementia (EACHD) program can provide high-level care through an individually tailored package that includes qualified nursing.
Read more: About Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia

Day Therapy Centres

Day Therapy Centres provide you with more information therapy services such as physiotherapy more information , occupational more information and speech therapy more information , podiatry more information and other therapies. Most are located in or near aged care homes. You need to be referred by your doctor, health or community care practitioner or by an aged care home.
Read more: About Day Therapy Centres

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This page was last updated on: 07 July 2011