Support Services and Resources

National Dementia Helpline

Phone: 1800 100 500
Email: helpline.nat@dementia.org.au
Visit: https://www.dementia.org.au/helpline/webchat/

Dementia Support Australia

Here to help 24/7.

Phone: 1800 699 799
Visit www.dementia.com.au

View a list of local Dementia Support services

Understanding Dementia Facebook Page

Visit: https://www.facebook.com/UnderstandingDementia/

University of Sydney Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre

For additional resources, including: Clinical practice guidelines and principles of care for people with dementia and Consumer companion guide.

Visit: https://cdpc.sydney.edu.au/research/clinical-guidelines-for-dementia/

Active and Healthy

The Active and Healthy website lists physical activity and falls prevention programs for people over 50.

Visit: https://www.activeandhealthy.nsw.gov.au/

Local Support Groups

Pennant Hills Dementia Carers Group

Address: Pennant Hills Community Health Centre, 5 Fisher Avenue, Pennant Hills
Phone: 9483 7999
Email: vera.bucci@health.nsw.gov.au

Berowra Carers Support Group

Address: Berowra Community Health Centre, 123 Berowra Waters Rd, Berowra Heights
Phone: 9456 3344

Carer Gateway

Phone: 1800 422 737
Visit: www.carergateway.gov.au

NSW Carers Support Service

Visit: https://www.nslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/carer/Pages/default.aspx

Meals on Wheels Ku-ring-gai & Hornsby

Tasty, nutritious meals delivered to your door. Download the brochure.
For more information and to order online.
Visit: kmow.org.au
Hornsby residents phone: 9482 2088
Email: hornsby@kmow.org.au
Address: 25/12 Cecil Road, Hornsby. Centres are open 8am-3pm, Monday to Friday.

CCNB – Dementia Advisory Service

Visit: https://ccnb.com.au/dementia-advisory-service/

Sydney Community Services – Improving the dementia Journey

Visit: https://www.sydneycs.org/8856-2/

For a full list of Dementia Cafes and Support Groups in the Northern Sydney Region please click on the following link:

Dementia Cafes and Support Groups

Tips for Communicating with people living with dementia

DO

Listen carefully and make eye contact
Allow plenty of time for a response
Keep sentences short and simple
Avoid competing noises such as television or radio
Use orienting names or concepts where possible, such as “Your partner X” or “Your local council, Y

DON’T

Try to hurry people
Argue or take a condescending tone
Ask questions that rely on a person’s memory
Use negative body language and facial expressions

Educational Resources

Living well with dementia

Visit: www.livingwellwithdementia.org.au

Dementia Training Australia

Offer several free online courses covering a wide range of sub topics around dementia. Some of the courses include Community Care and Dementia – Responsive Behaviour, Demystifying Dementia, Community Care and Dementia – Understanding the Condition.

Visit: https://www.dta.com.au/online-dementia-courses/

Northern Sydney Local Health District Dementia Services Directory

Download the brochure: https://sydneynorthhealthnetwork.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NS11699-Memory-Problems-Brochure.pdf

Montessori Approach to Supporting People with Dementia

Relate, Motivate and Appreciate–the approach provides suggestions on how to engage a person living with dementia in purposeful activities to enable a sense of self, value and choice.

This link has a series of videos explaining and take you through a step by step guide demonstrating the Montessori approach as well as a range of activity ideas.

Visit: https://www.dementia.org.au/news/what-activities-can-i-do-someone-who-living-dementia

How to create a dementia enabling environment

Visit: https://www.enablingenvironments.com.au/
Visit: https://www.dementia.org.au/living-dementia/home-life/creating-dementia-friendly-home

Dementia help-sheets covering a wide range of topics

Visit: https://www.dementia.org.au/about-dementia

Wicking Institute (UTas)

The Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre is at the forefront of translational research and support for issues confronting people with dementia and their carers. The site offers free courses on preventing and understanding dementia.

Visit: https://mooc.utas.edu.au/

Preventing Dementia Free Online Course

Course opens: 11 May 2021
Course duration: 4 weeks
Estimated effort: 2 hours per week
Course access: Day or night, on your smart phone, tablet or computer
Course closes: 25 June 2021 (content is accessible across 6 weeks)
Completion certificate? Yes, there is a personalised certificate on completion
Cost: FREE

Click here for more information about the Preventing Dementia MOOC

Click on the button below and follow the prompts to sign up and enrol at:

mooc.utas.ed

Activities

Sensory activities are key for people living with dementia. Sensory stimulation is the activation of one or more of the senses such as taste, smell, vision, hearing, and touch. Sensory stimulation enables us to engage with the environment and communicate in multiple and complex ways. In the frustrating world of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, sensory stimulation is a key component for improving the quality of life of residents in long term care. Activity Programs should provide a variety of daily sensory activities to cater for different tastes.

Online locations to purchase activities/games and resources

Box n Dice: https://www.boxndice.com.au/product-category/dementia-activities/

Wisdom Activities: https://www.wisdomactivities.com.au/

Dementia Shop Australia: https://dementiashop.com.au/

Sensory based Apps

Tabla!

Drawing Pad

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/drawing-pad/id358207332

Magic Piano

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/magic-piano-by-smule/id421254504
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smule.magicpiano&hl=en_AU

Thisissand

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/thisissand/id569414555?ls=1
Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.com.beigeelephant.thisissand

SwirlPaint

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/swirlpaint/id478622405

Online Resources

Subscription based websites that have a range of activities and resources for people living with dementia. Although there is a subscription fee they also all offer free trails resources.

Golden Carers: https://www.goldencarers.com/

Quality Ageing has Montessori approach activities: https://www.qualityaging.com.au/

Activity Connection: https://www.activityconnection.com/

To find more information on activities available in the area please click the following link.

Staying socially connected