Dementia mate wareware is a condition that will affect the lives of almost every Kiwi family as our population ages. With the number of cases expected to soar by more than 240 percent in the coming years, it’s becoming an increasingly common part of the national conversation. Yet, it remains a subject many of us feel uncomfortable discussing.
When we think about dementia mate wareware, it often conjures up negative images. This stigma creates a significant barrier to acceptance, awareness, and understanding.
“Dementia mate wareware is one health condition with which we tend to feel very uncomfortable,” says Catherine Hall, Chief Executive of Alzheimers NZ. “It triggers a variety of emotional responses, often ranging from poorly hidden pity and distaste to outright avoidance of the person living with the condition.”
September is World Alzheimers Month, and Alzheimers NZ is spearheading efforts to change perceptions and create a more dementia friendly Aotearoa New Zealand. The organisation has co-authored the Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan, urging the Government to fund and implement it.
The plan includes two key planks aimed at addressing the issue:
Dementia mate wareware cases in Aotearoa New Zealand are expected to jump by more than 240 per cent in coming years,” Hall explains. “Not only will a lot of us be personally affected, but dementia mate wareware will cost the country around $6 billion a year by 2050, creating massive fiscal strains and potentially overwhelming our ailing health system.”
Despite the clear and present challenges, successive Governments have yet to fully fund and implement the Action Plan. This lack of support has left thousands of New Zealanders struggling to get the help and support they desperately need.
