A need to chat

By Lachlan Ellis

Local dementia carers have a new place to seek advice and ask questions thanks to a new support group, with its founder hoping carers won’t have to “go it alone”.
Melton woman Melanie Farrugia founded ‘Dementia Carers Support – Melton and Surrounds’ in June, after attending two Dementia Australia events in Bacchus Marsh and finding such events were few and far between.
Ms Farrugia cares for her mother-in-law who has dementia, and said getting advice and not bottling up how you feel as a carer was important.
“I find that every carer’s needs are different depending on their circumstances. I went to two talks in the Marsh at the Library, and they were amazing. I knew certain things about dementia, but they explained so many things I didn’t know, like that there are hundreds of types of dementia. There are things you can read, but unless you’re actually talking with someone, listening and answering questions, you don’t get the full idea,” Ms Farrugia told the Moorabool News.
“I think the better question is not ‘what support is missing for carers’, and ‘what is even out here’, and I’d say, nothing. Just talking to people who are going through it or have been through it is so important. I could find so many carers’ groups to go to and talk about my daughter [who has developmental delay], but to talk about caring for someone with dementia…there’s nothing.”
While the group is currently limited to an online presence on Facebook, Ms Farrugia hopes more people caring for those with dementia will feel confident to come forward and seek support, and in-person meetings may be possible in the future.
“It hasn’t really taken off yet, I think people may be a bit embarrassed or hesitant to ask for help. I get that, I’m the same, I don’t ask for help often, I think I can do it on my own. But I was at the stage where I couldn’t do it on my own, I needed help and feedback,” she said.
“There’s no judgement or abuse in the group. If people want me to post their questions to the group anonymously I will. If people need help, if they need to vent or have a cry, we’re here to listen and talk.
“I’m in the process of asking Dementia Australia to come out again, and hopefully Council can donate a room for us to meet in. I think people would be more comfortable speaking in-person, talking openly and freely, and it won’t leave the room.”
If you care for someone with dementia and would like some advice or just to chat with fellow carers, visit ‘Dementia Carers Support – Melton and Surrounds’ on Facebook.