Dementia Support
ANHF provides culturally specific dementia care for the Chinese and Vietnamese communities, and maintain the dignity, autonomy and quality of life for people living with dementia and their families.
ANHF
What Support is Available?
When caring for a person living with dementia, remember that support is always available and that you are part of a caring community. Although the journey can be challenging, our services are here to help you feel confident and supported in your role.
Dementia-Specific Social Groups
Friendly and stigma-free group gatherings designed for people living with dementia. Activities include brain games, sensory stimulation, gentle exercise, and cultural events, which helping people living with dementia stay active, connected, and joyful.
ANHF Dementia Specific
Respite Services
We offer both centre-based respite and in-home respite options, giving carers a much-needed break while ensuring their loved ones receive professional, compassionate care in a safe environment.
Respite Services
Carer Support Groups
Caring for someone living with dementia can be a rewarding role but it may also bring big changes to your life, with both good days and hard days. Our carer support group connect carers with others who have been through a similar experience. Our monthly gathering also provide carers an opportunity to meet, share; and seek support and updated resources which could make caring easier.
Tailored One-on-One Dementia Stimulation Program
We arrange personalised and meaningful programs based on each consumer’s life story, culture, belief, preferences and wishes. These programs are to maintain the cognitive, delay the deterioration, keep the mind active, improve quality of life, and bring moments of joy to every people living with dementia we care for.
These may include:
- Memory games and conversation sessions
- Music and art therapy
- Gentle physical exercises
- Sensory and cognitive stimulation
Community Visitors Scheme (CVS)
This service is free of charge. We can arrange our trained and friendly volunteers to visit older people living with dementia who are using Home Care Packages so their family carers can take a break. All volunteers are carefully chosen and matched to the elderly person and their interests and location. The weekly or fortnightly visits can involve activities such as chatting, reading, listening to music, playing board games, learning to use new technology like a mobile phone or doing gentle exercise together.
Mindful Club
Embracing the challenge of dementia, our Home Care Services is introducing the Mindful Club, a dementia-specific support group. The group will meet fortnightly at Campsie, offering activities that support memory and cognitive health.
What Is Dementia?
Dementia is a brain condition. A group of symptoms that affect memory, thinking, and daily activities. It happens when brain cells are damaged and cannot communicate properly. This makes it harder for a person to remember, think clearly, or make decisions.
With appropriate interventions, symptoms can be managed, the progression of the condition can be delayed, and its impact can be minimised.
Dementia is not a normal part of ageing.
Signs and Symptoms of Dementia
Early signs of dementia can be small and easy to miss. Common symptoms include:
- Memory loss that affects daily life
- Difficulty finding words or following conversations
- Getting lost in familiar places
- Changes in mood, behaviour, or personality
- Struggling with daily tasks such as cooking or managing money
- Poor judgment or decision-making
If you notice these changes in yourself or someone you care about, seek medical advice early.
ANHF
Useful Links and Telephone Numbers
Other support services for carers of older people living with dementia, e.g. counselling, carer education, help with behaviour management.
Counselling
Dementia Australia:
www.dementia.org.au
National Dementia Helpline: 1800 100 500
Carer Gateway:
www.carergateway.gov.au
Tel: 1800 422 737
*If translation required, please contact:
Translating and Interpreting Services (TIS National)
Tel: 131 450
Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Services
Dementia Support Australia:
www.dementia.com.au/dbmas
24 Hour Help: 1800 699 799
*If translation required, please contact:
Translating and Interpreting Services (TIS National)
Tel: 131 450
Carer Education
iSupport:
www.isupportcarers.com.au
Dementia Australia:
www.dementia.org.au
Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre:
www.utas.edu.au
*All the carer education courses provided by the above organizations are free and in English.