Two major new reports published for World Alzheimers Day have highlighted the lack of supports available for people diagnosed with dementia and the discrimination many of them face.
A report from Dementia Australia, Dismantling dementia discrimination: It starts before the diagnosis, explores the impact of discrimination and how early diagnosis, community awareness and support are critical components to ensuring that people with dementia are supported to live as well as possible.
The report explores the idea it is not always evident that someone has dementia and in the same way that physical ramps and other measures are used to support people with physical disabilities to access spaces, metaphorical 'ramps' are needed to inform how we, as a community, can reduce discrimination and stigma for people living with dementia.
"Dementia is largely an invisible disability and what people can't see they don't understand and what they don't understand they tend to avoid," said Dementia Australia chief executive Maree McCabe.
Delays in diagnosis and accessing services can have serious consequences for the physical, cognitive and psychosocial health of the person living with dementia, she said.
"An early diagnosis means people with dementia can access vital support and resources sooner, to help support a better quality of life and to plan for the future," Ms McCabe said.
Dementia-friendly physical environments and improving understanding and awareness of dementia amongst the community and health care professionals, are part of the needed supports.
Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), the global federation of 105 Alzheimer and dementia associations co-founded by Professor Henry Brodaty, has also released the World Alzheimer's Report 2022 - Life after diagnosis: Navigating treatment, care and support.
The report shows that up to 85 percent of the over 55 million people across the globe living with dementia may not receive post-diagnosis care, treatment or support and has prompted dementia experts from around the globe to call for dementia care after diagnosis to be recognised as a human right.
Professor Brodaty said the report - of which he is a contributing author - focuses on the urgent need for significant improvements to essential post-diagnosis treatment, care and support services.
"There is a lot of attention directed at cure, as well as prevention," he said.
"This report highlights the importance of post-diagnostic care and makes a recommendation on robust plans to support the forecast 139 million people living with dementia by 2050.
Post-diagnosis dementia care, treatment and support refers to multiple interventions that can improve the quality of life for those with dementia, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, rehabilitation, brain training, cognitive stimulation therapy, lifestyle interventions especially physical exercise, caregiver support, access to healthcare, support for daily life activities, home adaptations, social inclusion and respite.
"In the same way that people who have had a stroke or heart surgery are offered rehabilitation and continued support, people diagnosed with dementia deserve the opportunity to live positively, build on their assets and compensate for their disabilities using a re-ablement framework," said Professor Brodaty.