Helpline: What every carer needs to know

Whether you're new to caring or have been supporting someone with dementia for a while, it’s not always clear where to turn to for help. Every carer’s path is different, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. This episode offers straightforward advice on where to get help, what support services are available and why it’s never too early to reach out.

If you’d like tailored support, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day or request a callback, start a webchat or send an email with whatever is on your mind.

If you want to hear stories about other carers’ experiences, [listen to this episode of Hold the Moment]. 

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Hold the Moment is a podcast from Dementia Australia, produced by Deadset Studios.  

Follow Dementia Australia on Facebook and Instagram or find support resources on our website. 

This episode was hosted by Jim Rogers and Kristin, a National Dementia Helpline Advisor. It was produced by Luci McAfee. Executive producers are Gia Moylan and Kellie Riordan. 

Dementia Australia and Deadset Studios acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. 

Dementia Australia acknowledges and appreciates the support of the Australian Government for this initiative. 

 

Episode Transcript

(00:05):
- Caring for someonewith dementia isn't easy.
You're balancing emotional,
and physical challenges every day.
It can be difficult to know where to start
and what support is out there.
But, it's not something you have
to figure out, all on your own.
Hi, I'm Jim Rogers,
and this is Hold The Moment,a podcast by people living

(00:27):
with dementia and their families.
In our first episode of this season of
Hold The Moment, you met TV presenter
and podcaster, RachelCorbert, who talked us through
what it was like caring for not just one,
but two parents with dementia.
If you haven't already heard this episode,
download it and have a listen now.

(00:48):
Rachel talks about theimportance of getting help
as your caring, and help is at hand via
Dementia Australia's free helpline.
You can speak with trainedcounsellors from the
helpline, like Kristen.
- I'm Kristen, an advisor onthe National Dementia Helpline.
When you reach out to thehelpline, you'll connect

(01:09):
to an advisor, like me, on the telephone
by web chat or email.
- In this bonus episode,Kristen breaks down
what you need to knowin your new caring role.
(Music)
- You might be wonderingif you are a Carer?

(01:32):
If you've got a loved one whohas a diagnosis of dementia
or mild cognitiveimpairment, whether you're a
family member, a neighbour, or a friend,
you could be considered a Carer.
As a Carer, you might reach out to the
helpline for lots of different reasons.
Initially, you might reach out
because you've noticed somechanges in a loved one,

(01:54):
or maybe you're wonderinghow to make adaptations
around the house to help your loved one
living with dementia to navigate
through the home easier.
Once, I even had someone callthe National Dementia Helpline
to ask about a good birthdaypresent for a loved one
who was living with dementia.
Because it was really important to them
to find something that would work.

(02:16):
There really isn't anything too small
or anything too big tocall the helpline about.
If you're looking for a place
to learn more aboutthe changes that happen
for a person living withdementia, we can connect you
to some workshops and webinars.
We might also suggest supportssuch as Carer Gateway,

(02:40):
who can help support all Carersin navigating
the systems and the needs that they've got
and trying to match themwith supports as well.
Everyone's experience is different.
Even though you mighthave your own feelings
and your own way of approaching things,
there are other peopleout there who are also
caring for a loved oneliving with dementia,

(03:02):
and they might alsounderstand a little bit of
what you're going through.
(Music)
- If you've got any questionsabout anything you've heard on
this episode, you can callthe Free National Dementia
Helpline on 1800 100 500.
You can also reach out to
an advisor through web chat or by email.

(03:25):
Both of those options are available on
Dementia Australia'swebsite: dementia.org.au
Their trained advisorsare available 24 hours a day.
Every day of the year.
And look out for moreepisodes of Hold the Moment
that will help you as a Carer.
(Music)