Dementia rates second only to cancer
New research has found that dementia is the second most feared disease amoung senior Australians.
Dementia comes second only to cancer as the most feared disease amoung Australia’s older population, despite the inevitable fact that an estimated one million people are expected to be living with dementia by 2050.
New research released today by Alzheimer’s Australia NSW has highlighted the grave state of society where people living with dementia, their carers and families have to face ignorant and fearful attitudes as the result of the stigma associated with the disease.
Of the carers surveyed, around 76 per cent had, at some point, felt embarrassment or shame for the person they care for because of inappropriate social behaviour caused by the dementia.
The findings, contained in the Addressing the Stigma associated with Dementia discussion paper, found that the stigma associated with the disease left a profound effect on people with dementia and their loved ones.
CEO of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW, John Watkins stressed the reality of situation.
“Firstly, this is a health issue and secondly, it is a social issue as the stigma associated with dementia causes exclusion, discrimination and disempowerment for the person, their family and carers,” Mr Watkins said.
“People don’t understand the disease and they are ignorant of it. From that comes fear and discrimination. It is a common cycle unfortunately.
“We’ve dealt with the [same sort of stigma] over the last 30 or 40 years with cancer and mental illness. That stigma has dropped away significantly for those diseases so the challenge is to do the same with dementia.”
Most importantly, he said, it seems that people who have genuine worries about their memory do not seek medical help early on as they are so worried about the nature of the disease.
“That’s bad news as the reason could come down to another cause which could be treated immediately. If it is dementia, they have the right to be diagnosed.”
Mr Watkins said it is essential that the community understands that life need not stop with a dementia diagnosis.
“People can continue to lead a fulfilling and rewarding life and should be encouraged and supported to continue to participate in mainstream community life.
“The number of people with dementia is only going to increase and, as physical disability has been increasingly integrated into mainstream society, so too should dementia.”
Alzheimer’s Australia NSW has called upon the federal government to create a national campaign to increase the understanding of dementia and to decrease stigma.
“You need to raise awareness and you need education. If you do that well enough, for long enough then it will have a critical impact. Workers in the industry also come from our community and they need education as well.
“The change driven by dementia has been rapid over recent years and people in every industry have to be educated about the nature of the problems they are living with. [Aged care] workers are good-hearted but they need to understand what they are dealing with, new approaches to the disease and new medicines.”
Mr Watkins said he is looking towards the upcoming Productivity Commission inquiry into aged care for action on dementia.
“The government has said it the inquiry will provide them with a blueprint for reform. We’ll keep them to that. And this report [of ours] gives comprehensive evidence of why action is needed on dementia.”
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