Know someone with dementia?
A new study has found more than half of Australian adults have had a family member or close friend affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The study, commissioned by Alzheimer’s Australia New South Wales, also found one in 10 people have supported or cared for a family member or close friend with dementia.
A new study has found more than half of Australian adults have had a family member or close friend affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
The study, commissioned by Alzheimer’s Australia New South Wales, also found one in 10 people have supported or cared for a family member or close friend with dementia.
The findings revealed 60% of Australian adults knew of someone affected by Alzheimer’s disease, despite seven in 10 adults admitting they knew very little about dementia or Alzheimer’s.
About 50% claimed they would rather not think about it and 25% said they find Alzheimer’s and dementia “frightening”.
John Watkins, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Australia, told ABC he wasn’t surprised at the number of Australians impacted by dementia.
“I think Australians are surprised by it because it’s almost sneaking up on them,” Mr Watkins said. “So, it’s clear that it’s big now, but it’s going to get a lot bigger over the next 10 to 20 years,” he added.
While he remained unsurprised by the number of those affected by dementia, Mr Watkins believed getting Australians “thinking about dementia” was important for them to be prepared to “deal with the dementia epidemic coming our way”.
The Alzheimer’s survey was conducted in December last year by market research company Ipsos, and was the first initiative of a new three year sponsorship and fundraising partnership between the company and Alzheimer’s Australia.
Under the agreement, Ipsos will develop a calendar of fundraising activities to help raise awareness of the disease. As well, all Ipsos staff will give two full days of paid leave to volunteer and help raise money for Alzheimer’s Australia.
Mr Watkins also called for better support and services for Australians impacted by dementia and more medical research into the neurological disease.
