Helping you care for people with dementia
When behaviour changes impact the care of someone with dementia, we can help.
Support when behaviour
impacts care
Making sure a person with dementia receives the right support at the right time can be challenging – especially when their behaviour starts to impact their care.
At DSA, we work with you to understand the causes of changed behaviours and assess the level of support a person needs. Through evidence-based strategies and recommendations, training, and ongoing support and advice, we help you get the best outcomes for the people in your care.
Whether you’re a GP, nurse, aged or health care provider, we can help – no matter where you are in Australia.
Our services
Dementia Support Australia delivers support that is tailored to your needs. Our team will help determine the most appropriate service – and this can change over time. You can learn more about our programs here.
Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service
On the ground, practical advice for when behaviour impacts on care. Delivered through short-term case management and tailored recommendations. We provide support in residential care but also have a dedicated community focused team to support carers at home, respite services and home care providers.
Learn more about DBMASSevere Behaviour Response Teams
Sometimes, more severe behaviours or psychological symptoms of dementia occur and our 24/7 mobile dementia specialists are ready to help.
Learn more about SBRTAssessing for Eligibility for the Specialist Dementia Care Program
Specialist Dementia Care Programs offer more support. Find out if the person you are providing care for is eligible through our specialised assessment program.
Learn more about NBAHospital to Aged Care Dementia Support Program
The Hospital to Aged Care Dementia Support Program is intended to support older people living with dementia who are at risk of delayed hospital discharge due to their dementia.
Learn more about HACDSPStaying at Home
A free well-being and respite program that provides carers with advice and practical strategies on how to support a person living with dementia to remain in their own home for as long as possible.
Learn more about SAHChildhood Dementia Support
We’re here to help you. Receive practical strategies and recommendations around supporting a child living with childhood dementia – and their family.
Learn more about CDSDementia Advice for GPs
A dedicated service for GPs working in aged care and providing care for people with behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). The service provides direct access to a team of aged care medical specialists who provide advice about the management of symptoms for people experiencing BPSD.
Learn more about GPASEligibility criteria
To be eligible for DSA services, the person requiring support must:
- Have a diagnosis of (or is suspected of having) dementia.
- Experience behaviours as a result of their dementia that impact their care or be at risk of this in the community.
- Agree to receive DSA services (or have the consent of their nominated person responsible for their care).
- For engagement support, our team will talk to you about how to access.
Why behaviours change
Dementia can impact a person’s ability to control what’s going on around them, and how they respond to situations. The only way they may be able to respond or communicate is through their behaviour. This is often the result of distress or a sign that their medical condition has changed.
24/7 support, wherever you are
A person’s location shouldn’t limit their access to care. We offer 24/7, 365 days a year support (including public holidays) no matter where they are in Australia – from the city to rural and remote locations around the country.
How we’ve helped others
Helpful resources
Frequently Asked Questions
I need help to update care plans and assessments. Can you help with this?
We have a range of guides and tools that can help you. We work one-on-one with individuals where behaviours impact on their care to develop recommendations you can integrate into your planning processes. We'll support you with the tools and partner with you to implement them.
We live in the middle of Australia and don't have access to a lot of resources. Will you still come out on site?
Yes. During our triage phase, we'll give you some quick tips and recommendations to support you until we can visit. Our team will aim to get to you as quickly as possible regardless of where you are. Sometimes, natural disasters slow us down - but we'll let you know if there are any delays. In 97% of referrals where we identify as high risk, we will visit within 48 hours.
Who do we need to involve in the referral?
We will always seek consent from the person responsible (or the person living with dementia if they can provide it) so that they can be involved. We work best in partnership with everyone involved in the care of the person you are referring in, including the GP. We want to give you the tools to better support the person in your care – and be able to have conversations with the family about any changes and how you will support them along the way. We're happy to provide more information about this when we triage your referral.
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Make a referral
To make a referral or discuss a person’s circumstances, simply
call our 24-hour helpline on 1800 699 799 or contact us.
Dementia Support Australia continues to provide its services across Australia during the current pandemic.
We understand that care homes and family carers might be more concerned about the level of access our services are able to provide.
Read about our services during the pandemic