Taking the confusion out of dementia
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| © iStockphoto.com/Joseph Jean Rolland Dube |
September is Dementia Awareness month in Australia and Macquarie University has joined with Alzheimer's Australia to promote greater awareness of dementia through two public seminars.
"Interest in dementia as a social phenomenon is growing," says Dr Elizabeth Latimer Hill, Lecturer in the Ageing and Health program at Macquarie University. "Our program offers insight into the issues surrounding this disease because as the population ages, there is a larger proportion of older people who will present with dementia, which affects those caring for them as much as it does the person involved. There are issues for carers, planners, social policy makers and residential care providers to name a few."
The news is not all bad for older Australians. According to the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care 66 per cent of over 65s in the state assess themselves as in good or excellent health. Less than half of the group said they needed assistance to manage health conditions or cope with everyday activities. These statistics look good on paper but unfortunately dementia is common.
Statistics show that one in every 100 people over the age of 65 will develop dementia and there is higher prevalence in the older age ranges, with one in five people affected at age 80.
There is no one single cause of dementia but most types are relentlessly progressive and have no treatment that can modify the disease. The treatments that are currently available are used to maintain the patient's quality of life and the sanity of their carers.
Information Sessions
The information sessions include a public talk titled Taking the confusion out of dementia: The 21st Century reality - from baby boom to dementia boom, as well as general course information about the Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and Master of Ageing and Health offered at Macquarie University.
The Ageing and Health program is ideal for people looking to enhance their employment prospects in the aged care and health sectors, and the public talk will be of significant interest to people with an interest in understanding dementia.
The first session will be held on Tuesday 11 September from 6pm-7.30pm on Level 3 of the SAM Building, Macquarie University.
The second session will be held on Friday 21 September from 12.30pm-1.30pm at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management CBD Campus, Level 6, 51-57 Pitt Street, Sydney.
Registration is required for the Ageing and Health Public Lectures. Visit www.openday.mq.edu.au/FutureStudentsPostgraduate/InformationSessions email events@vc.mq.edu.au or phone (02) 9850 6046.
For further information on the Ageing and Health Program at Macquarie University visit www.postgradandbeyond.mq.edu.au
* Information on Dementia taken from an article by Dr Bruno Franchi, Geriatrician. Australian Doctor, 6 April 2007 p25-32 www.australiandoctor.com.au/htt/pdf/AD_HTT_025_032___APR06_07.pdf