For family carers and family members

Dementia Australia offers education sessions and group programs for carers, family members and friends of people living with dementia.

Our education sessions and programs are designed in response to the specific needs of people caring for or supporting a family member living with all forms of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body disease, frontotemporal dementia and younger onset dementia. The education programs focus on providing knowledge, strategies and support that is aligned with the various stages of dementia. All sessions are delivered by Dementia Australia's highly experienced facilitators who specialise in the delivery of education and support to people affected by dementia.

Activities at Home

This practical session assists carers looking after someone at home to plan engaging activities. It promotes independence and wellbeing by focusing on what the person with dementia can still do.

Bathing Made Easy

This session provides an understanding of common behaviours observed during bathing, showering, hair washing and dressing. It provides useful tips to engage a person with dementia more successfully in these activities.

Caring in the Later Stages

This program offers information and support for family members and carers who are supporting someone in the later stages of dementia, or want to prepare for that time.

Communication and Dementia

The session provides information on dementia, the way we communicate and how changes in communication can occur as a result of dementia. 

Considering Residential Care

This session provides information about the process of considering and preparing for residential care. It includes strategies to help family carers to decide when residential care may be needed, information on the process for application, and understanding the emotional impact of the change.

Creating a Dementia-Friendly Home

This session provides information about dementia and the likely impact of the symptoms on a person’s perception of, and ability to successfully navigate their home environment.  

Dementia and Your Caring Role

This program provides an understanding of dementia and how to care for someone living with dementia.

Driving and Dementia

This program provides information about the impact of dementia on driving. It offers tips for recognising when dementia is impacting on someone’s ability to drive safely, the importance of planning ahead, and acknowledging the significance of retiring from driving. 

EDIE for Family Carers

This session enhances knowledge of dementia through virtual reality technology that allows participants to see the world through the eyes of a person living with dementia.

Exploring Respite

This session is about the process of considering respite services and preparing for them. It includes information about types of respite, how to access services, and strategies for preparing for respite. Participants will also be supported to recognise their emotions and share any concerns about respite.  

Future Planning: Beyond Diagnosis

This program provides guidance for people living with dementia, their family members and family carers to plan for the future, once they have come to terms with a diagnosis of dementia and understand the symptoms and impacts of dementia.

Grief, Loss and Dementia

This session provides an overview of the grief, loss and emotional impact of the changes caused by dementia. It provides information about the kinds of change and loss experienced with dementia, the ways people may experience and express their grief, and emotional coping strategies for family carers of someone living with dementia.

Health and Hygiene at Home

This session provides an introduction to a range of health and hygiene issues that may present in caring for a person with dementia. It covers topics including nutrition, showering, dressing, oral health, falls and sleep.

Is it Dementia, Depression or Delirium?

This session provides information about the differences between dementia, depression and delirium and the relationship between these conditions.

Living With Dementia Program

This program provides an overview of dementia and how to proceed after a diagnosis. It covers coping with change, relationships and communication, planning for the future and staying healthy.

Living With Younger Onset Dementia Program

This program provides education and support for people recently diagnosed with younger onset dementia.

Mild Cognitive Impairment

This session provides information about mild cognitive impairment, including diagnosis, progression, treatment and management strategies.

Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Disease

This session provides information on similarities and differences between Lewy body disease, Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s dementia and offers practical tips for family carers.

Understanding Changes in Behaviour

This session provides an introduction to dementia and changes to the brain, effects on behaviour and the impacts of changed behaviour. It will introduce problem solving models, including strategies to minimise and respond to changed behaviour.

Understanding Dementia

This session provides an introduction to dementia including an overview of different types of dementia, diagnosis, planning ahead and how to support someone living with dementia.

Understanding Younger Onset Dementia

This session provides an introduction to younger onset dementia and the unique impacts of a diagnosis of dementia earlier in life.