1. ALZHEIMER’S ORGANISATIONS AGENTS OF CHANGE
GLENN REES, CEO ADI CONFERENCE, LONDON 2012

2. ALZHEIMER’S ORGANISATIONS 10 YEARS OF CHANGE

3. DECADE OF CHANGE NATIONAL Documenting the dementia epidemic
Quality of dementia care
INTERNATIONAL
Worldwide dementia epidemic
Developing countries

4. TIME FOR REVOLUTION? NEGATIVE SOCIAL ATTITUDES ENDURE Stereotyping
Loss of rights
Stigma
Social isolation
HEALTH POLICY FAILS
Not recognised as a chronic disease
Treated as a natural part of ageing

5. TIME FOR REVOLUTION? The framework for development of dementia policy
Evidence base for our revolution
Communications and the use of social media

6. BUILDING BLOCKS FOR DEMENTIA POLICY
PUBLIC HEALTH FRAMEWORK
MAKE DEMENTIA A
NATIONAL HEALTH PRIORITY
EVIDENCE BASE:
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT

7. A PUBLIC HEALTH FRAMEWORK
AGED CARE
HEALTH POLICY
DEMENTIA
Awareness
Timely diagnosis
Support and care
Risk reduction
Research

8. AWARENESS LIMITED UNDERSTANDING Symptoms beyond memory loss
Affects younger people
Common cause of death
Symptoms develop decades before diagnosis
Risk reduction

9. AWARENESS Greater awareness and understanding of legal rights
Maintain autonomy and self-determination

10. TIMELY DIAGNOSIS
Only 20-50% of people living with dementia are recognised in primary care
Up to 80% of people with dementia do not yet have a diagnosis
3.1 years from symptoms to diagnosis in Australia
A diagnosis of dementia often comes as a relief

11. SUPPORT AND CARE
In Australia, 70% of dementia care is provided by the family
RECOMMENDATIONS
Consumer directed models of care
Equitable and sustainable charges
End of life care, advance care planning and palliative care
Entitlement to services based on need
Access to information and link workers
Community services and respite
Development of outcome standards

12. SUPPORT AND CARE: CARING FOR OLDER AUSTRALIANS REPORT
ALZHEIMER’S AUSTRALIA IS ADVOCATING FOR
Extra funding for dementia care
Flexible and suitable respite
Culturally appropriate dementia care
Support for Younger Onset Dementia
Co-ordination between Aged Care and Mental Health Systems

13. CONSUMER DIRECTED CARE
Care planning
Budget holding
Service delivery
The revolution: Empower the consumer

14. ACUTE CARE QUALITY OF CARE IN HOSPITALS
People with dementia stay longer in hospitals
Greater risk of hazards and poor outcomes
May be more appropriately treated in alternative settings

15. PREVENTION: DIFFERING VIEWS
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH
Not enough rigorous scientific evidence
Uncertainty about direction
More research needed
ALZHEIMER’S AUSTRALIA
Good evidence for vascular risk factors
No harm in advocating healthier lifestyles
Not expensive

16. 50% OF AUSTRALIANS DO NOT KNOW THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO REDUCE THEIR RISK OF DEMENTIA.

17. iPhone application developed by Alzheimer’s Australia with Bupa
Over 170,000 downloads (5th Feb 2012)
Downloaded in over 82 countries
Android version in development

18. RESEARCH
Dementia is the third leading cause of death in Australia behind heart disease and stroke
But Government funding for dementia research falls behind far behind the other major diseases
National Health and Medical Research Council funding for research on main chronic disease’s ( ).

19. RESEARCH IS AS IMPORTANT AS SERVICES AND SUPPORT IN ADVOCACY
Less than 0.5% of the cost of dementia care is spent on dementia research in Australia

20. SO WHERE NOW? We know what needs to be done
Passion and effective communication
Advocacy through story-telling

21. STORYTELLING MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS Marketing and branding strategy
Fight Dementia Campaign

22. FIGHT DEMENTIA CAMPAIGN
PARLIAMENT HOUSE AUSTRALIA, 13 OCTOBER, 2011

23. New BrandING

27. SOCIAL MEDIA
HIGH PROFILE PRESIDENT
INNOVATIVE WEBSITE

28. VALENTINE’S DAY:
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR LOVED ONE COULDN’T
REMEMBER YOU?

29. REVOLUTION We have the evidence National plans have shown the way
Consumers must be empowered
Communication, communication, communication
Be positive

30. time for action