Local dementia support and resources for dementia carers living in the South East Melbourne region
These dementia support and resources are for people living in the following local government areas:
Bayside, Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Glen Eira, Greater Dandenong, Kingston, Monash, Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip, and Stonnington.
Quick links
Click the buttons below to quickly navigate to the section of the page most relevant to you.
First steps for carers of someone with a dementia diagnosis
Below are some useful steps to take after finding out about their dementia diagnosis and how you can support them.
Step 1
Support your family member or person receiving care
Help the one you care for with treatment and options for managing dementia. Help them access dementia resources from their doctor.
Ask what specialists appointments, allied health, and advanced care planning is available.
Read and show them the Living with Dementia page. Support them in completing the Dementia checklist.
Step 2
Contact Dementia Australia
Call 1800 100 500 to learn more about:
Step 3
Call any relevant helplines
There is a list of helplines available to call that offer a wide range of support - access them by visiting the Dementia Helplines page.
Access the Dementia Guide by clicking here, read chapter 11, access the carer support and education section of this page.
Step 4
Access Government, social and community support
- Call Carer Gateway 1800 422 737
- Click here for information about the available support for carers and family members from government, community and local organisations.
Step 5
Help with accessing culturally appropriate care
If you care for someone who needs culturally appropriate care, read more about Multicultural dementia resources, First Nations dementia resources and our other useful web pages
Want to keep these first steps handy?
We've created a digital snapshot (as seen on the left) with these first steps that you can save to your desktop. The document includes links to relevant resources and services, and even a link to the dementia resources you are viewing right now.
To download the resource, click the button below.
Dementia Support & Resources
This mind map is a printable one page resource with the most important information for someone recently diagnosed with dementia, or their caregiver/family member. It includes phone numbers to essential dementia support services and organisations
To download the resource, click the button below.
Training and resources for carers
Family members and carers should access these resources for a more robust understanding of dementia care from a family or carer perspective.
Australian Dementia Network
Carers Circle
Dementia Australia Education
Dementia Support Australia
Forward with dementia
Older Persons Advocacy Network Education
Resources about grief or end of life care
Senior’s Rights Victoria
The Dementia Centre
The Wicking Dementia Centre
4 ways to support someone with dementia during extreme heat
ELDAC Dementia Toolkit (Palliative Care and Advanced Care Planning)
Advice to support someone who is grieving
How can I support someone who has been diagnosed with dementia?
Carer support organisations
Carer Gateway is an Australian Government program providing free services and support for carers.
The Australian Government works with a range of health and carer organisations across Australia, known as Carer Gateway service providers, to deliver services to carers
For Services and Support from Carer Gateway, click this link - Services and support | Carer Gateway
Alfred Health Carer Services
Australian Carers Guide Magazine
Carer Card Program
Carer’s Circle
Carer Friendly Places Program
Carer Support Group Directory (Carers Victoria)
Carers Victoria
Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria Access & Support Network
Grief Australia
Malvern Carer Support Group (Alfred Health)
Mind Carer Support
Monash Health Carer Support
Peninsula Health Carer Support Program
Staying at Home (Dementia Support Australia)
Tandem
Victorian Support for Carers Program
Multicultural Care and support for dementia
Respite options for carers
Respite Care information can be found by clicking this link - Respite care | My Aged Care
Most Residential Aged Care Facilities provide ad hoc respite. To find a local provider, click this link - Find a provider | My Aged Care, enter your postcode, select “short-term care” from the “care type” drop down list, and then select the relevant services etc.
Additionally, your local council may provide respite services.
Multicultural Dementia Care & Support Centres
Australian Multicultural Community Services offers free care and support for both the individual diagnosed with dementia and their carer. There is a Dementia Care & Support Centre in the City of Casey and to register, click this link - Multicultural Dementia Care & Support Centres - Australian Multicultural Community Services. The phone number to call for more information is 03 9689 9170.
Download the flyer - Staying at Home Program.pdf
Additionally, centre-based respite for different cultural groups is also available from the same service provider. Click this link to find out more - Centre-based Respite - Australian Multicultural Community Services
Young carers
Other useful web pages
List of Services
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First Nations dementia information
This page offers information about culturally sensitive services/resources for First Nations peoples who have received a dementia diagnosis.
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Multicultural dementia informationList Item 2
This page offers dementia information about culturally sensitive services/resources for people from multicultural backgrounds.
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LGBTI dementia resources
LGBTI+ dementia specific resources or services are available for community members who are seeking further information or support.
These resources are developed by dementia experts, health professionals, government bodies and LGBTIQ+ health organisations.
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Young onset dementia
Younger onset dementia, also known as early onset dementia, is any form of dementia in people under the age of 65. Although dementia is much less common in people under 65, it can be diagnosed in people in their fifties, forties and even thirties.
These resources may be useful to people diagnosed with younger onset dementia, or carers of those with a diagnosis.
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Elder's rightsList Item 3
Elder's Rights organisations assist elders with various social, community and health issues that people encounter when they navigate aged care, the medical and healthcare sectors, and social welfare and government support.
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Dementia helplines
Looking for someone to talk to? Experts in dementia care are available to discuss diagnoses and ongoing care.
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Care finder services
Care finder services help connect vulnerable older people to aged care services and supports.
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Palliative Care
Palliative care is care that helps people live their life as fully and as comfortably as possible when living with a life-limiting or terminal illness.
This page provides an overview of palliative care services and resources.
