By Lachlan Ellis<\/p>\n
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\u2019t have to \u201cgo it alone\u201d.
\nMelton woman Melanie Farrugia founded \u2018Dementia Carers Support \u2013 Melton and Surrounds\u2019 in June, after attending two Dementia Australia events in Bacchus Marsh and finding such events were few and far between.
\nMs 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.
\n\u201cI find that every carer\u2019s 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\u2019t know, like that there are hundreds of types of dementia. There are things you can read, but unless you\u2019re actually talking with someone, listening and answering questions, you don\u2019t get the full idea,\u201d Ms Farrugia told the Moorabool News.
\n\u201cI think the better question is not \u2018what support is missing for carers\u2019, and \u2018what is even out here\u2019, and I\u2019d 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\u2019 groups to go to and talk about my daughter [who has developmental delay], but to talk about caring for someone with dementia\u2026there\u2019s nothing.\u201d
\nWhile 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.
\n\u201cIt hasn\u2019t really taken off yet, I think people may be a bit embarrassed or hesitant to ask for help. I get that, I\u2019m the same, I don\u2019t ask for help often, I think I can do it on my own. But I was at the stage where I couldn\u2019t do it on my own, I needed help and feedback,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s 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\u2019re here to listen and talk.
\n\u201cI\u2019m 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\u2019t leave the room.\u201d
\nIf you care for someone with dementia and would like some advice or just to chat with fellow carers, visit \u2018Dementia Carers Support \u2013 Melton and Surrounds\u2019 on Facebook.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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\u2019t have to \u201cgo it alone\u201d. Melton woman Melanie Farrugia founded \u2018Dementia Carers Support \u2013 Melton and Surrounds\u2019 in June, after attending two Dementia Australia events in Bacchus […]<\/p>\n