Supporting families, carers or significant others of people with dementia

Support family members, significant others or carers of a person with dementia—educate them about dementia and the nature of cognitive and behavioural abnormalities. The impact of caring for a person with dementia can be significant and increases the risk of carer depression and anxiety.

Useful resources for families, carers and significant others of people with dementia include:

• the Services Australia website—provides information about benefits and payments for carers
• Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres—provides information on local carer support, disability and community services. Telephone 1800 052 222 (business hours) or 1800 059 059 (emergency after-hours respite support)
• Carers Australia—a national peak body representing Australia’s unpaid carers. Telephone 1800 242 636
• Carer Gateway—provides a carer support and advisory service in different languages. Telephone 1800 422 737
• National Dementia Helpline—provides information about dementia including advice on obtaining services, and organises carer support groups. Telephone 1800 100 500
• Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS)—is a 24-hour helpline (1800 699 799) that provides expert advice and support to staff and carers of people with challenging behaviour of dementia in the community and in acute, primary care or residential aged-care settings
• My Aged Care—information on navigating the aged care system, including advice on services, respite and aged-care facilities.