Every day, 250 Australians are diagnosed with dementia. Yet, there's still no cure.
According to Dementia Australia, Dementia is a brain condition and is not considered a normal part of ageing. Its impact can vary but it commonly affects mood, memory, thinking and behaviour. There are several types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementias and others. While dementia can occur at any age, it is more prevalent in people over the age of 65.
To help shape the City of Ryde as a dementia-friendly community, Council strongly supports Dementia Awareness Week (Monday 15 to Sunday 21 September 2025) and encourages residents to take part in the Living with Dementia Survey - Australia's first national survey of its kind.
To help improve dementia care, treatment and support, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in collaboration with the University of Canberra, has launched the survey. It invites people living with dementia, their carers and families to share their experiences on:
• Diagnosis and support
• Access to services
• Wellbeing and quality of life
The survey will help inform government policy on:
• Community attitudes toward dementia
• Improving diagnosis and post-diagnostic care
• Better coordination of support services
To show local support for building a dementia-friendly community:
• Join a free 1-hour "What is Dementia?" course to learn more about dementia.
• Visit the DCaf Community Social Dementia café run by Rotary Club of Ryde - open 11am at the Temple Society Australia in West Ryde on the first Wednesday of each month.
