Alzheimer’s Nelson Tasman is seeking ‘super’ donors to help it meet huge community need

“Four out of five New Zealanders know or have known someone living with dementia (mate wareware),” says Heather Lackner, Manager for Alzheimers Nelson Tasman. “That’s why we are looking for ‘super’ donors to help us to meet the growing need we see every day.

“Our region continues to experience a high demand for support, with a particularly challenging staff-to-case ratio. Our team is deeply committed to providing the best possible care to those we work with, and we recognise there are still many individuals and families in our community who need our support.

“If four or more people in the region donated their superannuation entitlement that would fund a much-needed additional part-time team member able to deliver ongoing support services,” says Heather.

“This would be transformational for our organisation and the people it supports. We are not seeking assistance from those who need their superannuation for their living costs. This request is for those who are not currently claiming their superannuation or who may not need all of it but feel that they can help support our work.”

Connection is crucial when it comes to both supporting a person living with dementia and those supporting them, says Heather.

“Providing opportunities to connect reduces social isolation and associated risks and dramatically improves a person’s prognosis and quality of life. People can live fulfilling lives with dementia, especially if they have a timely diagnosis and good support around them.”

Opportunities in the community to obtain accurate and up-to-date information and to talk to people who are going through similar experiences are very important.

“If four ‘super’ donors came forward to support us we could increase our workshops and information sessions for people living with dementia and their care partners. We could deliver another carer support group each month and we could increase the number of social groups we deliver from three to five per week.

“The additional funding would also mean we could support the recruitment, training, and management of our hugely valuable volunteers who can assist with various tasks, such as administrative duties, event planning, fundraising, or direct service delivery.”

There will be an increasing need for dementia support in the coming years, says Heather, and it’s important that people can have the opportunity to share their experiences and seek help early.

Almost 83,000 Kiwis are living with dementia in 2025. It is expected that the number of people living with dementia will increase by 240 per cent by 2050.

Dementia impacts more women than men – with the incidence of dementia in women being around 30% higher than for men.

“As referrals to Alzheimers Nelson Tasman continue to rise,” says Heather, “It’s vital we build our service capacity so we can grow strategically responding to clients’ needs and adhering to best‑practice standards in dementia care.”

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