September is Dementia Awareness Month so we are running a series of stories to help you get the facts. The theme for this year’s campaign is: you are not alone.
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There are a number of events planned on the Mid North Coast including an interactive volunteer education workshop for those supporting people in dementia care in Port Macquarie.
And at the Kempsey Shire Library a session will be held to address some of the misconceptions surrounding dementia.
So first things first – what is dementia and how many Australians does it affect.
What is dementia?
- Dementia is the term used to describe the symptoms of a large group of illnesses which cause a progressive decline in a person’s cognitive ability. It is a broad term used to describe a loss of memory, intellect, rationality, social skills and physical functioning.
- It can happen to anybody but is more common after the age of 65.
- Dementia is fatal and is not a normal part of ageing.
How widespread is dementia ?
Statistics from Alzheimer’s Australia show there are currently more than 413,106 Australians living with dementia:
In our next story we take a look at the prevalence of dementia on the Mid North Coast.