Category: English

About Us

The original project team was:

Robyn Gillespie, BN, MPH (advanced), MPHAA

Robyn has worked previously as a Registered Nurse and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Wollongong. She is interested in improving the communication of health information for older Australians. Robyn is a Member of the Public Health Association of Australia.

Lindsey Harrison, BA (Hons), MA, MSc, PhD, MPHAA

Lindsey is an Honorary Senior Fellow in the School of Health and Society at the University of Wollongong. She has many years of experience in public health teaching and research. Her main interest has been studying how the conditions of everyday life affect health. Lindsey is a Member of the Public Health Association of Australia.

Judy Mullan, BA, BPharm, PhD, FSHPA

Judy has over 25 years of experience as a pharmacist and is currently a senior lecturer in the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Wollongong and the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI) theme leader (scientific) for Ageing and Chronic Conditions. Judy is interested in improving aged care and medication self-management and in communicating health information. Judy is a fellow of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia.

In 2015, they were joined by:

  • Pippa Burns, BSc (Hons), MPH (Dist), PhD
  • Amanda Baker, BA, MA, PhD
  • Victoria Traynor, BSc (Hons), RGN, PGCHE, ILM, PhD
  • Khin Than Win, MBBS, PhD, DCS, IDCS, MS-CIS

Funding

This work was supported by the Global Challenges Program at the University of Wollongong. The original project was funded by the Multicultural Health Service Health Reform Transitional Organisation Southern Cultural Diversity Health Enhancement Grant South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health Districts.

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank all family caregivers who shared their time and stories to guide the development of the information in this website. The experience of consultants, Christiaan van Zanen Evelyn Jelercic and Leissa Pitts has been helpful throughout this project. We also thank the facilitators of family caregiver support groups and their interpreters.

Special thanks

To our narrators: English: Heather Clark; Italian: Shereen Quartarone; and Macedonian: Biljana Stanoevski. Sound Engineer: Sam Gillespie The recording studios at Pulse 94.1FM radio station

◄ ►
Click to go back Click for the next page

Site Map

◄ ►
Click to go back Click for the next page

Information for caregivers / people living with dementia

To listen to the information on this page please click on the play button below.

For information about where you can get more help, as a family caregiver of a person living with dementia:

Aged Care Assessment Team 

Website: Aged Care Assessment Team

Carer’s Australia

Website: Carer’s Australia

Respite and Carelink Centre

Telephone: 1800 052 222

Contact your local Multicultural Health Carer’s Support Group

◄ ►
Click to go back Click for the next page

Product Information

To listen to the information on this page please click on the play button below.

For information about products and equipment to help you give medicines to your family member:

Independent Living Centres

Telephone 1300 885 886
Website: ILC Australia

Dementia Assistive Technologies
Website: Dementia Technologies

Medicine reminders

Telephone 1300 822 846
Website: TabTimer

Safety and Mobility Pty Ltd   

Telephone (02) 99839520

Website: Safety and Mobility Pty Ltd

◄ ►
Click to go back Click for the next page

Other Resources

To listen to the information on this page please click on the play button below.

Other places you can go to for help

The following are useful organisations you can contact for information and assistance.

For information about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease contact:

Alzheimer’s Australia
Website: Fight Dementia
Telephone: 1800 100 500.
Some translated material is available.

Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service

Website: DBMAS
Telephone: 1800 699 799    Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Multicultural Health Services in your state.

For information about where you can get more help, as a family caregiver of a person living with dementia:

National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500

◄ ►
Click to go back Click for the next page

Caring for Yourself

To listen to the information on this page please click on the play button below.

Caring for Yourself

Looking after someone with dementia can be very tiring.

  • Ask your family or friends for help.
  • Try to organise some time each week when you can leave your family member in someone else’s care so that you can have a rest.

You could also arrange for your family member to go to a day respite centre. To organise this, contact the nearest Aged Care Assessment Team at your Local District Hospital.

In addition to your doctor and pharmacist, you can get helpful support at any time of the day or night from the Dementia Behavioural Management Advisory Service.

  • Telephone: 1800 699 799. 24 hours a day.
  • Website: DBMAS Site

It can be helpful to talk with other people who are also looking after someone with dementia. You may be able to share good ideas or simply talk about what is worrying you. A good place to meet with other people is at your nearest dementia carers’ support group. For information about carer support groups in your area please contact the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 or look for notices of support group meeting times in your community papers. Local Councils also have a directory of support organisations.

Groups are also available for people who speak languages other than English. For contact details of your nearest group, contact the Carer Program Co-ordinator or the Multicultural Health Unit at your local hospital.

◄ ►
Click to go back Click for the next page