Dementia Awareness Month is Dementia Australia’s national awareness-raising campaign held every year throughout September.
Its aim is to encourage all Australians to become more aware of dementia, to get a better understanding of what it is like to live with dementia and how we can support people living with dementia.
This year’s theme is ‘Small actions. Big difference.’
Dementia is the term used to describe the symptoms of a large group of illnesses which cause a progressive decline in a person’s functioning. It is a broad term used to describe a loss of memory, intellect, rationality, social skills and physical functioning. There are many types of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia and Lewy body disease. Dementia can happen to anybody, but it is more common after the age of 65.
In 2018, there is an estimated 425,416 Australians living with dementia – 191,367 (45%) males and 234, 049 (55%) females. There is an estimated 1.2 million Australians involved in their care.
There are many small actions people can take to create a big difference for people impacted by dementia, their families and carers.
If you would like to find out more about dementia or the many ways you can get involved in Dementia Awareness Month, please visit Dementia Australia’s website at www.dementia.org.au.
If you would like to contact Dementia Australia’s offices in the Northern Territory, please visit www.dementia.org.au/nt/about-us/contact-us for their contact details.