According to Dementia Australia, Dementia is described as a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain.
Dementia affects thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks. It affects and interferes with the person's normal social or working life. Alzheimer's disease is the most common types of dementia.
There are more than 436,000 Australians who are living with dementia. More than 250 cases occur every day.
“The number of people living with dementia is projected to increase to 590,000 in just ten years and almost 1.1 million by 2058.” (Dementia Australia)
Pakistani-Australian doctor Arooge Shafi, who migrated to Australia in 2003, is a rehabilitation specialist and treats people living with dementia. She says her holistic aim is to improve the patient’s overall quality of life.
“Oscar Wilde said, ‘to live is the rarest thing in the world, most people exist, that is all’.
"We actually help people ‘live’ by making a practical & real difference in their quality of life.
"Making medical and functional diagnoses and prognosis, prevent and treat secondary and tertiary complications, manage symptoms, facilitate treatment, and contribute to life decisions; all that are tremendously satisfying.”
Dementia is usually common among people . People with dementia usually face memory loss, confusion, personality change, and the loss of ability to perform everyday tasks. It affects their social and working life which also affects the family members and loved ones.
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“They forget where they have kept their things, for example leaving something on the stove and forgetting about it, which is a safety concern. Similarly, they sometimes forget about taking the medicine. These are some of the basic symptoms of dementia.
Also, the people around them like family members notice the change in behaviour. The person starts to repeat a lot, sometimes get vague and confused.
The next stage is neglecting the day-to-day activities, forgetting an activity such as a shower or skipping a meal.” Dr Shafi adds.
“And this is where rehab medicine comes in. It focuses on improving their functions, treating the symptoms and complications, so they can again live their lives in a healthy and happy way with full of energy.” Image
But she says the advanced stages which are difficult to manage are the behaviour and psychological problems.
“They result in agitation, confusion and the patients with a bit of insight who realise that they are losing memory, it is very frustrating.”
This is the stage where they require help with managing day-to-activities, according to Dr Shafi.
“They require help in personal hygiene, nutrition, mobility and sometimes even in social interactions.”
Did you know that more than 425,416 people in Australia are living with dementia? This get a better understanding of what it is like to live with dementia and how to support people living with dementia. Visit
— Australian Government Department of Health (@healthgovau)
National Dementia Helpline: 1800 100 500
