By Dr Narsimha K R Vuthpala (Dr Kal), Principal GP with a clinical interest in elderly care at Carrara Family Practice
This week, 21 to 27 September, is Dementia Action Week, including World Alzheimer’s Day on the 21st. Dementia Australia’s theme this year is simple: it’s time to talk about dementia.
That message matters because dementia has become Australia’s leading cause of death, yet it remains one of the conditions families are least likely to discuss openly. An estimated 446,500 Australians are currently living with dementia, and more than 1.7 million people are involved in caring for someone who has it.
The cost of not talking about it
Silence around dementia has a real cost. Diagnoses get delayed because a family decides to wait and see. Carers become isolated because they don’t know who else to talk to. People never learn that support and services exist, simply because the conversation never happened.
None of that is anyone’s fault. It’s genuinely hard to raise. Nobody wants to say the wrong thing, or suggest something that turns out to be nothing.
What’s ordinary, and what’s worth checking
Forgetting a name and remembering it an hour later is a normal part of getting older. Dementia is different. It’s a group of conditions that affect memory, thinking, behaviour, and the ability to manage everyday tasks, in ways that go beyond ordinary forgetfulness and tend to get worse over time.
If you’ve noticed a change in yourself or someone you care about, that’s not something to self diagnose from a checklist. It’s something worth raising with a GP.
Why an early conversation with a GP helps
A GP can properly assess memory or thinking changes, rule out other causes such as medication side effects, thyroid issues, depression or vitamin deficiencies, which can all mimic dementia symptoms, and arrange further assessment where needed. An earlier conversation generally means more options, more time to plan, and more support along the way, for the person and for the people caring for them.
Support is available
National Dementia Helpline: 1800 100 500, free and confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Visit dementia.org.au for more information and support services.
Start the conversation
If this week prompts a conversation you’ve been putting off, with a parent, a partner, or about your own memory, that conversation can start with us. Book an appointment at Carrara Family Practice. Call (07) 5594 4118 or book online.