Most people feel overwhelmed when first diagnosed with dementia, and have many questions about what it means, what to do next and who can help.
A new program launched on Monday aims to assist the estimated 60,000 Australians diagnosed with dementia each year to understand the next steps and change outdated perceptions of living with the loss of cognitive functioning.
Forward with Dementia is a program jointly planned and developed by researchers from the Universities of UNSW, Sydney and Wollongong in collaboration with colleagues from Canada, the Netherlands, Poland and the UK.
It provides the information newly diagnosed people with dementia said they wanted and needed but struggled to find after diagnosis.
“In the past, people were told nothing could be done. They may have been given some medication, asked to return in six months, told to get their affairs in order and warned about driving. And that was it! Those days are over … or they should be! We can do a lot better,” said Professor Henry Brodaty, Project Leader and Co-Director of UNSW’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA).
“People with dementia can live positively for many years. There are treatment strategies and we need to spread the word and assist diagnosticians and other health workers to improve their practice. By working together, we can help set people newly diagnosed with dementia on a better path.”
Check out the website, which offers information, advice, tools, shared experiences and strategies used by people with dementia and their carers.
If you would prefer to talk to someone, call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.
