clinical focus
‘ Collaborative partnership ’
Dementia Support Australia ( DSA ) head of professional services Marie Alford . Picture : Supplied
A new campaign sheds light on ‘ unseen struggles ’ faced by dementia caregivers
By Elise Hartevelt
Caregivers of people with dementia could be lacking adequate support , according to a prominent Australian dementia organisation chief .
It ’ s estimated that 70 per cent of people with dementia live at home and receive support from their families and carers .
The ‘ Dementia affects us all ’ campaign by Dementia Support Australia ( DSA ) sheds light on carers ’ often-unseen struggles .
The television commercial depicts the journey of a husband caring for his wife who is living with dementia , and their challenges , emphasising the importance of seeking help .
“ Most people don ’ t realise that support is available for family carers and people living with dementia at home , as well as home and community care providers ,” DSA Head of Professional Services Marie Alford said .
“ We want caregivers to get help before they reach their limit .”
Aged Care Insite spoke with Ms Alford about the importance of supporting caregivers in their vital role .
ACI : What challenges do caregivers face in supporting people with dementia ? Marie Alford : Up to 90 per cent of people living with dementia will experience behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia ( BPSD ) at some point in their journey .
Behaviours are our natural responses to daily life events .
For people with dementia , behaviours , like everyone else , can be influenced by factors such as the environment or communication difficulties .
Some behaviours are caused by actual dementia , depending on the type of dementia a person has .
Certain types of dementia , like frontal lobe dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies , can also result in changed behaviours due to specific brain damage .
Other factors , like noise or communication style , can trigger agitation or confusion .
Then there could be communication difficulties , such as language barriers , speaking speed , and approach direction , which can also trigger behaviours in individuals with dementia .
Nevertheless , many of these behaviours can be addressed and improved with
16 agedcareinsite . com . au