Most people with dementia prefer to remain at home for as long as possible. Government-funded home care packages can support this — with the right level of care and the right provider.
Personal care
Assistance with showering, dressing, and grooming — delivered with dignity by workers trained in dementia communication.
Cognitive support
Structured routines, reminiscence activities, and engagement programs to support mental stimulation and wellbeing.
Behaviour support
Strategies for managing changed behaviours — wandering, agitation, repetition — without using restrictive practices.
Carer support
Education, coaching, and practical help for family carers. Includes carer respite so family members can take breaks.
Nursing and medication management
Regular nursing visits to manage medications, monitor health, and coordinate with GPs and specialists.
Day centre programs
Dementia-specific day programs providing social connection, activities, and structured care while carers rest or work.
Home modifications
Safety modifications — grab rails, sensor lights, door locks and alarms — to reduce wandering risk and prevent falls.
Occupational therapy
Assessment of the home environment and recommendations for modifications, aids, and routines that support independence and safety.
Dementia is not a single condition — and care needs vary significantly depending on the type and stage. Understanding these differences helps families plan ahead and choose the right level of support.
Alzheimer's disease
~70% of cases
Gradual memory loss, language difficulties, and confusion about time and place. Care needs to focus on routine, safety, and familiar environments. Staff must be skilled in calm, patient communication.
Vascular dementia
~20% of cases
Caused by reduced blood flow to the brain — often following a stroke. Symptoms can appear suddenly and may plateau. Nursing support for physical health conditions is often needed alongside cognitive care.
Lewy body dementia
~5% of cases
Fluctuating cognition, vivid hallucinations, and Parkinson's-like physical symptoms. Care requires workers trained in responding to hallucinations and managing unpredictable changes in alertness.
Frontotemporal dementia
~5% of cases
Affects personality, behaviour, and language — often in people under 65. Families often find behavioural changes the most challenging. Behaviour support specialists and structured routines are critical.
Under the Support at Home program, package levels 1–8 correspond to increasing levels of assessed need. As a general guide, early-stage dementia often qualifies for Levels 1–2; moderate dementia with behaviour changes typically needs Levels 3–4; and complex or advanced dementia may require Levels 5–8. An ACAT assessment determines the appropriate level based on your specific situation — not the diagnosis alone.
Early stage
Advanced stage
400,000+
Australians living with dementia
Source: Dementia Australia
70%
live in the community — not in a facility
Source: Dementia Australia
1 in 10
people over 65 has dementia
Source: Dementia Australia
If you notice any of the following, it may be time to contact My Aged Care (1800 200 422) to request an assessment.
Caring for someone with dementia is among the most demanding forms of caregiving. The invisible nature of dementia — where the person may look well but behave unpredictably — creates a form of chronic stress that is distinct from other care situations. Carer burnout is common and serious: it affects the health of the carer and the quality of care the person with dementia receives.
Regular respite
Funded from the home care package — a paid support worker comes to the home regularly so the family carer can rest, work, or attend to their own needs. This is not a luxury; it is a clinical necessity for sustainable caring.
Education and coaching
Training and practical coaching for family carers: how to communicate with someone who has dementia, how to manage changed behaviours without restraint, and how to structure the day to reduce distress.
Counselling
Access to counsellors or psychologists experienced in grief, carer stress, and dementia. Some packages can fund this directly; others can facilitate referrals. Carer mental health is a legitimate care need.
Emergency respite
If the carer is suddenly ill, injured, or otherwise unable to provide care, emergency respite can be arranged at short notice. Planning for this possibility — before it is needed — is essential.
Carer Gateway — free support separate from My Aged Care
Carer Gateway is a government-funded service providing free counselling, coaching, peer support, and respite planning specifically for carers. It operates independently from My Aged Care and home care packages — meaning carers can access support even before a package is in place.
Call 13 43 79 or visit carergateway.gov.au. Available 24/7 for crisis support.
Not all providers approach dementia care the same way
Some providers have invested in Dementia Australia-endorsed training programs such as Dementia Care Essentials, ensuring their workers understand person-centred approaches, respectful communication, and non-restrictive behaviour strategies. Others rely on general aged care training. When comparing providers, it is worth asking specifically about dementia training programs, what proportion of their workforce has completed them, and how they support staff who find dementia care stressful. This is not a minor detail — it affects the quality of every interaction your family member has with their care workers.
WithSally matches families with Support at Home providers who have specific dementia experience. Free, independent, and no pressure.
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