"A person with dementia may not remember the day, but they can enjoy the moment."
HealthWISE has dementia support services including assessment and diagnosis and support for patients and carers. To find out more
HealthWISE New England North West with the support of Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation are pleased to bring you this series of videos, Caring About Dementia, for carers of people living with dementia with some tips and hints that may help you in your very important role as a Carer.
Watch these videos at a time that suits you and return to watch them throughout your journey in caring for someone with dementia.
Caring about Dementia video series
Caring about Dementia: Series introduction. HealthWISE New England North West and Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation have teamed up to bring you a series of videos with ideas for caring for a person living with dementia. Please enjoy the introduction video.
Caring about Dementia: Communication. We chat to Sally (Dementia Carer Consultant) who provides suggestions about communicating with the person living with dementia.
Caring about Dementia: Carers Morning Tea, Episode 1. Sally and Cate share morning tea with a group of carers discussing their journey through diagnosis and stages of caring for a person living with dementia.
Caring about Dementia: Distraction and Redirection. We chat to Sally (Dementia Carer Consultant) who provides suggestions about communicating with the person living with dementia.
Caring about Dementia: Geriatrician Professor Susan Kurrle. We chat with Professor Sue Kurrle about a range of topics including exercise, driving, confusion, pain management, sleep, weight loss, wandering and visual problems.
Caring about Dementia: Self Care for Carers. Sally (Dementia Carer Consultant) talks about the importance of self care for carers.
Caring about Dementia: Personal care. In this video, Sally (Dementia Carer Consultant) is talking about personal care issues, that may arise with the person living with dementia.
Caring about Dementia: Carers Morning Tea, episode 2. Over morning tea, we chat with a group of carers about stepping into the world of a person living with dementia.
Caring about Dementia: Carers Morning Tea, Episode 3. Our carers chat about many topics including, how they look after their physical and mental wellbeing, the importance of respite and transitioning into residential care.
Caring about Dementia: Driving. Sally (Dementia Carer Consultant) discusses issues relating to driving after a diagnosis of dementia.
Caring about Dementia:Bits and Bobs. Sally (Dementia Carer Consultant) chats about a variety of topics, not necessarily covered in the other videos in this Caring about Dementia series.
HealthWISE Dementia Care
Memory Assessment Program
The Memory Assessment Program (MAP) provides a referral pathway for GPs to refer patients with mild to moderate cognitive impairment.
The program links GPs and their patients with specialist:
- medical,
- neuropsychological
- and dementia support services.
The service aims to support patients and carers from diagnosis of dementia through the progression of the disease. Additionally, the comprehensive patient cognitive screening and report provided by the MAP Coordinator helps streamline the referral pathway and supports the consultant Geriatrician, by aiming to reduce the number of specialist appointments required by the patient.
GPs are able to refer patients to the program by completing the Memory Investigation Service referral, which is available here, under templates for the Memory Assessment Program.
Please also include the MMSE/Clock Drawing test with the referral and send these via Medical Objects or fax, along with:
Referral letter to the Geriatrician
- Pathology results
- CT Brain Scan
- Medical history
- Medication list as per the check list on the Management Tool
- ECG
MAP is offered in the Tablelands region.
For further information, please contact Memory Assessment Program Coordinator Cate Doyle at our Armidale office on 02 6771 1146.
Do you care for someone living with Dementia?
Sally Henry
Dementia Carer Support
If you are concerned about a family member or yourself, who may have changes in memory or reduced abilities with day-to-day activities, you can make an appointment to talk with Sally.
Sally provides advice and support for carers of people living with dementia in the Tablelands region. Sally has many years of experience working with both carers and people living with dementia. You are also welcome to attend our monthly Carers Support Group facilitated by Sally.
For more information or to make an appointment to talk to Sally, please contact the Armidale HealthWISE office on (02) 6771 1146.
Sally is available four days per week. No formal referral is required.
Fees and Payments
There is no cost for this service.
Armidale Dementia Carer Support Group
As part of Sally’s role, she coordinates the Dementia Carer Support Group, which meets on the fourth Friday of the month in Armidale.
At these meetings, we often have guest speakers to provide education on relevant topics, in consultation with the carers, to ensure current needs are met.
The group provides a safe place for carers to talk about their concerns when looking after a family member living with dementia and to learn from other carer experiences.
Due to the COVID-19 restrictions there are no face-to-face meetings. The group meetings will take place via zoom. This meeting can be accessed via, computer, telephone or iPad.
Once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, Sally will be available to see people in Armidale and continues to be available to offer phone support to people in the Northern Tablelands region.
If you would like to join this group please phone the Armidale HealthWISE office on (02) 6771 1146.
