Chinese Dementia Helpline to expand
The relocation of a dementia-specific Helpline for the Chinese-speaking community in New South Wales (NSW) is expected to lead to longer operating hours and a better service for the Chinese-speaking community in NSW.
Chief executive officer of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW, John Watkins, said the relocation of the service, which is provided by Alzheimer’s Australia NSW, to the Australian Nursing Home Foundation in Burwood is a significant milestone in service provision.
“It means the physical location of the Helpline will be situated within a major Chinese community in Sydney, which means the staff and volunteers will be better supported,” Mr Watkins said.
“This move has also meant the Chinese Helpline will be able to expand its operating hours.”
Callers who ring the Chinese Helpline have access to trained Chinese-speaking volunteers and staff who can give them appropriate, relevant and up-to-date information on memory loss and dementia.
This includes on-the-spot telephone counselling and support and callers can also receive important printed resources about dementia, as well as the services available to help them, in their own language.
“Dementia does not discriminate,” Mr Watkins said.
“It impacts all Australians, regardless of their background. That includes CALD communities. Dementia will continue to have a major impact on Chinese-Australian families – both on those individuals who will develop dementia and on their families and carers.
“That’s why the Chinese Helpline is so important.”
The Chinese Helpline can be contacted on 1800 300 386 and the National Dementia Helpline can be contacted on 1800 100 500.
