Dementia advice and information

Caring for someone with dementia can be complicated, uncertain and sometimes lonely, especially in the early days.

Dementia Australia (formerly Alzheimer’s Australia) publishes this helpful online portal for carers of people with dementia.

It features advice, links to support services, education materials, help sheets and other resources as well as a definition of dementia, its symptoms, causes and memory loss.

The organisation also has a National Dementia Helpline (1800 100 500).

It also offers specific, State-based information and services (select your state from the left-hand navigation panel).

Resources for carers

Carers who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged often need information and advice.

Carers Australia is the peak body representing Australia’s carers. It advocates on behalf of carers to influence policies and services at a national level.

It also serves the carers of older and infirm Australians as well as providing support for younger carers and those who care for people from Indigenous as well as culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Working through its state and territory associations, Carers Australia also provides a wide range of counselling, advice, information and registration services. These include:

• Better Start provides an information and registration services about accessing funding and other support services for carers of children with eligible disabilities.
• Carer Advisory Service provides information and advice to carers and their families about carer support and services.
• National Carer Counselling Program provides short-term counselling by qualified counsellors.
• Mental Health Carer Counselling provides a specialised counselling service for carers of people with mental health issues.
• Young Carers Program provides information, advice and support for young carers.
• Young Carer Bursary Programme provides financial support to eligible young carers looking to remain in, or return to, education or training.

It also provides helpful assistance with navigating the NDIS.

Carers Australia runs a 24/7 helpline – 1800 242 636 – and works collaboratively with partners and its member organisations, its network of state and territory Carers Associations, to deliver a range of essential national carer services.