Dementia epidemic needs community support

Dementia epidemic needs community support

By 2026, the number of people in New Zealand with dementia will have doubled. Over 42,000 people have the disease currently; this number will grow to 74, 821 in 2026 and to 146,699 by 2050. This ‘epidemic’ is largely due to an ageing population and the fact that the disease, which results in memory loss, personality changes and loss of independence, has no cure.

Alzheimers New Zealand’s Awareness and Appeal Week runs from 12 to 18. Alzheimers New Zealand’s local organisations are calling for community support to enable people with dementia to live life to the fullest and to support whānau to cope with the demands of care-giving. These services include support groups for people with dementia and their carers, information and resources, education, counselling, home visits and where appropriate, day care.

Nationally, Alzheimers New Zealand lobbies the government for better funding and raises awareness about the disease in order for people to receive early diagnosis, get access to medications and improve health services for people with dementia and their carers.

In May this year Alzheimers New Zealand produced a National Dementia Strategy, received in Parliament by Minister of Heath Tony Ryall. The Strategy calls on the government, the dementia community, the aged care sector and Alzheimers New Zealand to make dementia a national health priority in New Zealand, as it is in Australia and the United Kingdom. This will enable better quality of life for people with dementia within the health system, at home and within residential care.

Alzheimers New Zealand spokesperson Cass Alexander says although the organisation has various contracts with local District Health Boards, it relies on the community to support its services.

“There are many different ways individuals and organisations can support us. This could be anything from a local business supporting our ‘cuppa for a cause’ campaign, where people give a koha for a cup of tea, to becoming a volunteer within one of our local organisations to giving generously during our appeal.”

To donate $20 to your local Alzheimers organisation, please call 0900 4 1234. To find out how you can support the work of Alzheimers New Zealand, or support their services, please call 0800 004 001 or go to www.alzheimers.org.nz.

ENDS