26 C
Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

Dementia rates set to rise on north coast

Latest News

Where should affordable housing go in Tweed Shire?

Should affordable and social housing in the Tweed Shire be tucked away in a few discreet corners? Perhaps it should be on the block next to where you live?

Other News

Got a creative theatre idea?

Mullumbimby’s The Drill Hall Theatre Company (DHTC) is offering two creative development opportunities for local independent artists to develop new performance piece concepts.

What the duck!

Most days I ask myself ‘what the duck’ is happening here? How could Trump be president again if he...

Workshop in Creative Writing For Beginners

Have you always felt like you have a novel in you, but don’t know where to start? Or have...

Caper Byron Bay Food & Culture Festival

Caper Byron Bay Food & Culture Festival returns to Byron Bay in May, and this year ‘locals favourite’ pub...

It’s a biggest little town festival! 

Supporters, performers, and volunteers gathered to launch the Mullum Laneways Festival 2024 last Friday. 

How the coral crisis affects other marine wildlife

Marine heatwaves are killing coral and denuding reefs of their colourful beauty – but in a world where everything is food for something else, these heatwaves also pose a major threat to biodiversity.

Alzheimer’s Australia is calling for better dementia care and support following a report by Deloitte Access Economics that claims coastal and regional Australia are set to take the brunt of dementia rate increases.

More than 332,000 people were suffering dementia across the country last year, over 112,000 of them living in New South Wales.

According to the report, the Tweed state electorate is sitting at the top of the list. It is expected to have more than 5,000 residents living with dementia by 2050.

In the Ballina and Lismore electorates there are an estimated 2,420 people currently living with dementia, which is expected to increase to 3,000 by 2020 and 7,300 by 2050.

Alzheimer’s Australia CEO John Watkins believes now is the time to act to ensure that people with dementia and their carers have the services they need in the future.

‘Dementia is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain and is the third leading cause of death in Australia,’ Mr Watkins said.

‘The rise in the number of people with dementia is an indication of the huge challenge ahead.

‘It is essential that we start building better care and support for people with dementia and their family carers. We need to build better community and residential care facilities, better support systems, and decrease the stigma and social isolation that often comes with the disease.

‘Everyone, from government to industry providers and the general public, has a role to play in creating a community that can accommodate and support the rising number of people affected by the condition and the estimated 1.2 million people that care for them.’


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Making Lismore Showground accessible to everyone

The Lismore Showground isn’t just a critical local community asset that plays host to a number of major events each year, but has also been used as an evacuation centre during past natural disasters in the region. 

Iconic Lennox beach shed upgraded –  not demolished

Lennox Park and the shelter shed has now been upgraded and reopened.

Govt cost-shifting ‘erodes financially sustainable local government’

Byron Shire Council looks set to add its voice to the growing chorus calling on the state government to stop shifting responsibilities and costs onto local government.

Saddle Road group home DA decision this week

Plans to build Byron Shire’s first permanent group home for women and children in housing stress are moving ahead, with the development application for the project coming before Council this week.