Carers and volunteer group drive dementia symposium

CARERS and volunteers shared stories and learned from experts at the annual Dementia Inclusive Ballina Symposium.

The event, organised by the Dementia Inclusive Ballina group, drew about 150 people to the RSL Club.

The volunteer-run group develops services, education and support for people living with dementia and their carers.

The symposium is one of its major events, combining expert presentations with lived experiences from locals.

Christine McNally, a member of the group, spoke on the younger-onset dementia panel.

Her husband Craig retired from work in 2019 and was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia with behavioural variant three years later, just after turning 60.

“He was declining for a while, but it was still a shock at the time,” Christine said.

“Our boys were only just finishing high school and it wasn’t something we had thought about.

“It took time to adjust and he has a carer three mornings a week now.

“The biggest thing is activity and getting him off the couch, which is a lot easier with a helper.

“Some days are better than others — he was able to help plan and come on a recent trip to Tasmania.

“Our oldest son has just finished a master’s in neuroscience, so he’s learnt a lot more about it too.”

Keynote speakers included Henry Brodaty from the University of New South Wales Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing.He spoke about social connectedness and physical engagement, one of the core themes of the event.

Susan Burgess, a committee member of Dementia Inclusive Ballina, spent almost a decade caring for her husband John.

“I’ve looked after my partner for the last nine years and he’s only recently gone into residential care,” she said.

“Events like this reinforce what we do as volunteers. I speak to different groups, and the social part of it is very important.”

The group is also running its inaugural Younger-Onset Dementia Day on Friday, October 24.

It is open to the public and will be held at Summerland Farm, Alstonville, from 10am.