Isolation and dementia: some people avoid what they don't understand

If you were diagnosed with cancer or heart disease you would not expect those around you to give you a wide berth. But for people living with dementia this happens all too often.

Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia and the numbers are set to double in the next 25 years. Despite how prevalent it is, it seems as a community we still have a long way to go to understand the social needs of people living with dementia and those caring for them.

In a recent survey, 32% of participants said they find people living with dementia 'frightening.'  Other research from Dementia Australia shows 80% of those with a loved one living with dementia felt people in shops, cafes, and restaurants treated people with dementia differently.

It does raise a lot of questions about how we change perceptions and overcome the stigma.