Helpline: Your guide to accessing dementia support services

Navigating the healthcare system on behalf of someone living with dementia can be challenging, especially when the different systems you’re engaging with don’t speak to each other. This episode offers simple tips to streamline the process.  

If you’d like personalised support on how to approach appointments or figure out the health care systems, 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’re considering residential care for your loved one with dementia, you can register for Dementia Australia’s helpful webinar here.   

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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. 

The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government.   

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

(00:06):
- Figuring out the healthcare system
and accessing care for your loved one
with dementia, can sometimesfeel like you're being dropped
into a maze without a map.
You're trying to understandmyGov, Carer Gateway,
Residential Care, Geriatricians,
and GPs, who all speak alanguage you quickly need

(00:26):
to become fluent in.
Hi, I'm Jim Rogers andthis is Hold the Moment.
This is Australia's onlypodcast just about dementia.
It is brilliant, so listen to it.
It really helps.
If you are feeling lost, you're not alone.
And there are things you can do
to try and streamline and simplify

(00:47):
your caring responsibilities.
We have a full episode available for you,
which helps you navigatethe healthcare system.
And in this bonus episode,there's more help from Kristen.
An advisor on the NationalDementia Helpline.
- I'm Kristen. When youreach out to the Helpline,
you'll connect to an advisorlike me on the telephone

(01:08):
by web chat, or email.
- Advisors like Kristen areavailable 24 hours a day.
Every day of the year.
And they have all kindsof tips and resources
to help you through the maze.
- One of the things youmight find in your role
as a carer, is thatthere are so many things

(01:29):
that need to be done.
If you're starting to feelthat bubble of overwhelm.
We can talk to you aboutprioritising what sorts
of things might be helpful first,
and what can wait for a little bit.
Sometimes, the complexity
of the medical system feelslike too much to do alone.
Sometimes, it's justhelpful to give us a call

(01:51):
and practise saying
what you're going to sayat your next appointment
to get across the pointsyou're hoping to get across.
One of the things that carers
and family members of peopleliving with dementia, mention.
Is that they need to tell their story
or their loved-one's story
over and over to different support systems

(02:13):
or medical professionals.
Some carers find it helpfulto write out a timeline
or a story, so that whenthey're telling it over again,
they don't have to worryabout missing a piece.
One tip that people alsofind helpful is asking
for the support person
or the medical professional to write out

(02:36):
what they've talked about in the session,
and the next steps to take.
One of the times that you might reach out
for support, is when you'reconsidering residential care
for your loved one who'sliving with dementia.
If you're interested,
we offer a workshopspecifically called

(02:56):
"Considering Residential Care"
So that carers can talk about and consider
what sorts of questions theymight want to ask
and what sorts of thingsare important to them and
their loved one when they'relooking at care options.
You might be feeling all sorts
of different things when you'reconsidering the next step.
One of the things that youmight be feeling is 'guilt'.

(03:19):
Or that somehow you failed your loved one.
You might find that it isunrealistic to look after yourself
and someone else, 24 hours aday, every day of the year.
As that happens, you mightwant to talk through your
feelings as you support your loved one
as they move into residential care.

(03:41):
And you navigate the new rolethat you have in their lives.
Sometimes, carers aren'tquite sure who to call.
If you're looking forsomething like care-at-home.
Are you supposed to reachout to 'My Aged Care'?
Are you supposed to reachout to 'Care Gateway'?
If you're ever confused aboutwhich organisation might be
providing the supportthat's most helpful to you,

(04:03):
you can give us a call on theNational Dementia Helpline
and we can help talkthat through with you.
- If you want to talk moreabout anything you've heard on
this episode, you can contactthe National Dementia Helpline
on 1800 100 500.
The free Helpline isavailable 24 hours a day.

(04:25):
Every day of the year.
Make sure you don't miss anepisode of Hold the Moment.
This series is designed to help you look
after your loved one with dementia,
whether it's balancingwork, coming to terms
with the relationships changing,
or just dealing with burnout.
And there's plenty more episodes
of Hold The Momentspodcast available right now,

(04:47):
either in your favourite podcast app
or on the Dementia Australia website.