Dementia Action Week: Ensuring everyone gets the support they need
Media Release
As Australia marks Dementia Action Week, the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health is highlighting the urgent need to ensure that every person living with dementia - including those with intellectual disability - have access to the care and support that they want and need.
Dr Rachael Cvejic, Senior Research Fellow at the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health, said that people with intellectual disability are at greater risk of developing dementia, and often at younger ages, than people without intellectual disability. Despite this, many people with intellectual disability face challenges in getting a timely diagnosis of dementia and appropriate support.
"Every person living with dementia needs and deserves the best possible care," Dr Rachael Cvejic said.
"For people with intellectual disability, dementia can sometimes present differently, which can make it harder to recognise. Health professionals can find it difficult to diagnose, and as a result, many people miss out on the support they need."
The National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health is currently undertaking a project that looks at supporting people experiencing changed behaviours associated with dementia.
"Our focus is on building a system that is equipped to support people with intellectual disability living with dementia” Dr Rachael Cvejic said.
"That means building a better understanding of the experiences of people with intellectual disability living with dementia and those who support them, and finding out how service systems can best respond"
"Dementia Action Week is a reminder that supporting people living with dementia is a responsibility shared across multiple sectors and the broader community. Nobody can do it alone."
The National Centre of Excellence is convening a policy roundtable on intellectual disability health and aging this month. Representatives from government as well as health, disability and aging sectors have been invited to attend.
Media contact: Alana Mew - 0419 929 722, alana.mew@essentialmedia.com.au
