Dementia Action Week, held from 21 to 27 September, encourages Australians to start conversations that build a greater understanding of dementia and support for the people it touches.
It is a conversation that is increasingly relevant to communities across Australia. An estimated 446,500 Australians will be living with dementia in 2026 (1), and two in three people living with dementia are thought to live within the community (2).
While dementia can bring changes, it does not define the person experiencing it. With greater understanding and the right support, people living with dementia can continue to enjoy meaningful activities, maintain social connections, and participate in family and community life.
Understanding dementia
Dementia is not one specific condition. It describes a collection of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain, and there are more than 100 different types. The effects can vary considerably from person to person, influencing areas such as memory, movement, sensation, appetite, behaviour, and communication.
Understanding that everyone’s experience is different is an important first step. Rather than focusing only on what someone may find more difficult, families and friends can consider how everyday activities and environments can be adapted to help the person continue doing as much as possible for themselves.
Creating supportive surroundings
Small, thoughtful changes to familiar surroundings can make everyday life easier to navigate, while helping people maintain confidence and independence.
Good lighting can improve visibility, while visual contrast can make important objects and areas easier to recognise. Reducing glare and unnecessary noise can help create a calmer environment, while straightforward controls on everyday items may make them easier to understand and use.
At home, practical changes can be equally valuable. Improving hallway lighting, installing a handrail, adding a ramp, or making frequently used areas easier to access are examples of how an environment can evolve alongside someone’s needs.
The aim is not necessarily to make significant changes all at once. Instead, considering how the person interacts with their surroundings can help identify practical adjustments that support safety, familiarity, and independence.
Staying connected to what matters
Perhaps most importantly, supporting someone living with dementia is about seeing the person, not simply the condition.
Familiar routines, hobbies, friendships, family time, and community involvement can remain meaningful. Maintaining these connections can provide opportunities for enjoyment and participation as a person’s needs change.
Greater awareness and understanding among friends, families, and communities can also help people living with dementia continue to feel welcomed, valued, and connected.
Support for living well with dementia
Aidacare supports people living with dementia, their families, and carers through practical advice, assistive technology, and solutions designed to support independence, dignity, and confidence at home. Aidacare’s dementia-ready design approach considers how thoughtful design, suitable equipment, and changes to the home environment can support everyday living as needs change.
To learn more about supporting someone living with dementia and explore Aidacare’s Dementia-ready Design Logic, visit aidacare.com.au.
1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (2025) Causes of Death, 2024, ABS, Australian Government, accessed 15 January 2026.
2.Livingston G, Huntley J, Sommerlad A, et al. (2024) ‘Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet Commission’, The Lancet, 404(10452):572-628.