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Over 65 years

bigstock-woman-during-shopping-at-fruit-50241533Care options for people over 65 years living with dementia include:

Access via My Aged Care

To access government funded aged-care services (including Help at Home, Short Term & Respite Care and Aged Care Homes) you need to apply via My Aged Care. You can contact them on 1800 200 422 or apply online.

My Aged Care will arrange for an Aged Care Assessment, where a qualified assessor comes to your home and establishes your needs. You will be referred to services based on the outcome of this assessment.

Help at Home

Help at Home Services include:

  • Meal delivery and assistance with food preparation
  • Personal care services
  • Allied healthy therapy services
  • Nursing care
  • Domestic assistance
  • Home maintenance and modifications
  • Provision of equipment and assistive technologies
  • Transport services
  • Social support services.

To locate government funded services in your area visit the Help at Home Finder at My Aged Care or contact: 1800 200 422.

You can also search via the Human Services Network: HSNet

Short Term & Respite Care

Short Term & Respite Care options include:

  • Short-term restorative care
  • Transition care (helping you to recover after a hospital stay)
  • Respite care to give you and/or your carer a break.

Aged Care Homes

Making the decision to find an alternative to home for the care of a person with dementia can be one of the most difficult decisions families and carers will make. This may be particularly true if the person with dementia is a long-term partner.

It is important to be well informed to help make this decision less stressful. Knowing about the services, government policies and costs of residential care can help you make the best decision, even if it has to be made quickly.

For more information, visit My Aged Care and the Aged Care Guide.

Hospital Care

  • People with dementia may require extra assistance and support if they are admitted into hospital for any reason.
  • Alert hospital staff to the particular needs of the person with dementia so that they can be supported appropriately during their stay.
  • Prior to discharge, make contact with the hospital social worker to help you plan for your return home.
  • For more information read the NSW Health publication Patient Information and Privacy a Guide for Carers and Family.

Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District hospital contact numbers:

  • Coledale Hospital: 4267 2266
  • Bulli Hospital: 4284 4344
  • Wollongong Hospital: 4222 5000
  • Port Kembla Hospital: 4223 8451
  • Shellharbour Hospital: 4295 2999
  • Kiama Hospital: 4233 1033
  • David Berry Hospital: 4464 1001
  • Shoalhaven Hospital: 4421 3111
  • Milton-Ulladulla Hospital: 4455 1333

Behavioural & Psychological Support

People with dementia may experiences symptoms such as:

  • depression
  • anxiety
  • agitation
  • sleep disturbance
  • aggressive behaviour;  and
  • psychosis (delusions and hallucinations).

Dementia Support Australia is a national service which administers the Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS) and Severe Behaviour Response Teams (SBRT). Dementia Support Australia aims to:

  • Improve the quality of life and care for people with dementia and their carers;
  • Up-skill, assist and support aged care providers in improving care for people with dementia and related behaviours; and
  • Ensure care services for people with dementia are responsive to their individual and diverse needs and circumstances.

Contact Dementia Support Australia on 1800 699 799.

The Care4Dementia App provides information and guidance for family, carers and frontline community and residential care staff on the behavioural changes associated with dementia. The App is available via Google Play and The App Store.

Palliative Care

Dementia is in most cases progressive, and in the later stages of the disease the person and their family will be dealing with end of life. A palliative approach focuses on comfort, care and the reduction of symptoms of distress of an individual and their family who are dealing with a life-limiting illness.

Palliative care facilities in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven include

  • Illawarra Palliative Care Service: 4223 8384
  • Sholhaven Palliative Care Service (Nowra Community Health): 4424 6300
  • Palliative care hospitals: