Dementia study confirms appalling stats affecting Kiwis

Alzheimers NZ has welcomed the preliminary findings of new research that highlights the appalling statistics facing thousands of New Zealanders living with dementia mate wareware. 

The IDEA project – Impact of Dementia mate wareware and Equity in Aotearoa – the biggest ever study of dementia in Aotearoa New Zealand, found that thousands of New Zealanders are living with dementia mate wareware, but are undiagnosed and not getting appropriate support. 

Alzheimers NZ Chief Executive Catherine Hall says the findings are a powerful reinforcement of what her organisation has been telling successive governments for years. 

“New Zealand is facing a ‘dementia epidemic’ that is putting unrelenting and growing pressure on the country’s fragile health system,” she says. 

“It affects around 100,000 New Zealanders, half of whom are undiagnosed, and a third of whom can’t get support through one of the 17 dementia community services, because those services are woefully underfunded and under-resourced. 

“The IDEA study validates both those numbers.  It also confirms the stigma associated with dementia still affects families’ willingness to seek a diagnosis, which is the doorway to getting support.” 

Hall is urging Government to progressively implement and fund the Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan and properly fund community support services.   

“Taking those two steps would reduce the number of New Zealanders who develop dementia and provide better support for those who do, while relieving growing pressure on the health system and lowering future costs to Government.” 

Hall says dementia mate wareware really is health sector priority that can no longer be ignored. 

“It’s fiscally irresponsible not to do something about the dementia epidemic facing this country.” 

Alzheimers NZ is looking forward to seeing the final IDEA report in due course.