Living at home with dementia
A new discussion paper by Alzheimer’s Australia NSW, which looks at the estimated increase in the number of people with dementia living alone and the implications this brings for social policy and the delivery of services, was also launched at Parliament House yesterday.
A new discussion paper by Alzheimer’s Australia NSW, which looks at the estimated increase in the number of people with dementia living alone and the implications this brings for social policy and the delivery of services, was also launched at Parliament House yesterday.
Mr Watkins said it was an important and growing issue. “We know the majority of people living with dementia prefer to stay at home for as long as possible and that applies to people who live alone as well.
“They have the right to live at home, if they choose to, for as long as it is safe to do so. And if they are well supported, they can continue to live at home for some time.”
But, Mr Watkins added, the research shows that people living alone with dementia have a higher risk of economic insecurity and abuse, loneliness and depression, poorer health outcomes due to self neglect and increased vulnerability to malnutrition, falls, accidents and hygiene problems.
“There is often an underlying assumption in dementia and aged care policy that there is a spouse, relative or friend who lives with and cares for the person, and this is reflected in the way services are delivered.
“People living alone with dementia tend to slip through the cracks. This can not only lead to people not receiving appropriate care, it can also lead to a raft of problems.”
IRT chief executive, Nieves Murray, who spoke at the launch of the discussion paper, says that with the right support, it is possible for people with dementia to live independently, sometimes until the end of their lives.
“We need to start planning for a future where more and more people with dementia will live alone in their own homes, and that is where they will require support,” Ms Murray said.
There are a number of recommendations in the discussion paper, including that the federal government ensures community services are targeted and funded to respond to the individual support requirements of people living alone with dementia.
Other recommendations include:
- the NSW government targets its promotion of planning ahead to people living alone with dementia through the NSW Ageing Strategy;
- the NSW government invests in volunteering schemes to support people living alone with dementia through the Community Builders Program;
- the federal government funds further research about people with dementia living alone, such as how they can better navigate dementia services and ease their journey into residential aged care; and
- local governments ensure the safety of people living alone with dementia is addressed through the creation of dementiafriendly environments and neighbourhoods.
Every Man Needs a Shed
A new short film about a New South Wales’ Hunter program for men in the early stages of dementia and male carers of people with dementia premiered at NSW Parliament yesterday.
The program, run by Alzheimer’s Australia NSW in conjunction with the Australian Men’s Shed Association, looks at reducing the social isolation often felt by men who are either caring for someone with dementia or have been given the diagnosis themselves.
John Watkins, Alzheimer’s Australia NSW chief executive, said the Every Man Needs a Shed program has been a great way to break down barriers of isolation men can feel when they are caring for someone with dementia or are in the early stages of the condition.
“By working with Men’s Shed members and educating them about dementia and ways to engage male carers of people with dementia and men in the early stages of dementia, we’ve been able to work together to provide an outlet, along with a great way for men in need to find support and friendship in a relaxed environment,” Mr Watkins said.
“You can see from the short film the success the program has had in helping bring men together who might otherwise remain isolated at home,” he added.
The program has been successfully running in the Hunter for the past year. You can find the short film here.
A copy of the discussion paper, Living Alone With Dementia, was supported through a grant from the IRT Research Foundation and can be found at www.fightdementia.org.au/new-south-wales/researchnsw
