{"id":4485,"date":"2025-06-26T04:57:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T04:57:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/?p=4485"},"modified":"2025-06-26T05:00:05","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T05:00:05","slug":"thousands-turn-to-new-dementia-handbook-to-better-support-loved-ones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/retirement\/thousands-turn-to-new-dementia-handbook-to-better-support-loved-ones\/","title":{"rendered":"Thousands turn to new dementia handbook to better support loved ones"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4485\" class=\"elementor elementor-4485\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-de12f99 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"de12f99\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4af0d70\" data-id=\"4af0d70\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-02324ac elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"02324ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>A <strong>free new handbook designed to help carers understand and respond to changes in behaviour among people living with dementia has struck a chord \u2013 with almost 5,000 copies downloaded or ordered since its launch.<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dementia.com.au\/\">Dementia Support Australia\u2019s<\/a> (DSA) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dementia.com.au\/resource-hub\/the-carer-handbook-for-understanding-changed-behaviours\">Carer Handbook for Understanding Changed Behaviours<\/a> aims to demystify the wide range of behavioural changes that may occur in people with dementia \u2013 from apathy and anxiety to agitation and aggression. It offers practical tips, possible causes, and helpful response strategies, all written in accessible language.<\/p><p>The 25-page guide also includes links to videos for carers who prefer to learn visually.<\/p><p>Launched quietly in March, the handbook has already been downloaded 4,152 times as of mid-June, with another 824 hard copy orders placed.<\/p><p>DSA General Manager Marie Alford said the overwhelming response reflects the clear need for easy-to-understand, practical support resources for carers.<\/p><p>\u201cThere are many reasons why behaviour can change for a person living with dementia. Understanding why is key to knowing how we should respond,\u201d Marie said.<\/p><p>\u201cThis handbook helps carers build their knowledge and confidence at home, so they feel better equipped to provide care and support day-to-day.\u201d<\/p><p>The resource was developed with input from geriatrician Professor Sue Kurrle, one of Australia\u2019s leading experts on dementia, and draws on DSA\u2019s decade of experience supporting carers and families across the country.<\/p><p>For Steve Wright, 76, of South Launceston, Tasmania, who cares for his wife Dianne, 75, following her Alzheimer\u2019s diagnosis 15 years ago, the handbook was a game-changer.<\/p><p>\u201cIt\u2019s a fantastic guide \u2013 easy to read and reminded me of things I knew but had forgotten,\u201d Steve said.<\/p><p>\u201cMy wife\u2019s behaviour has changed noticeably in the past year, and this book helped me identify possible triggers and how to respond. I\u2019ve asked for a dozen copies to share.\u201d<\/p><p><strong>Where to get the handbook<\/strong><\/p><p>You can download the handbook <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dementia.com.au\/resource-hub\/the-carer-handbook-for-understanding-changed-behaviours\">here<\/a> or order a printed copy. It\u2019s completely free.<\/p><p><em>DSA is a free, national support service funded by the Australian Government and delivered by HammondCare, a leader in dementia care and research. DSA consultants are available to carers 24\/7, every day of the year.<\/em><\/p><p><em>Need advice? Call 1800 699 799 for support at any time.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A free new handbook designed to help carers understand and respond to changes in behaviour among people living with dementia has struck a chord \u2013 with almost 5,000 copies downloaded or ordered since its launch. Dementia Support Australia\u2019s (DSA) Carer Handbook for Understanding Changed Behaviours&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4486,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-retirement"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4485","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4485"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4485\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4490,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4485\/revisions\/4490"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4486"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}