Dementia rates in New Zealand are set to double within the next 30 years placing increased demands on families and an already over-burdened health system. But according to AUT researcher and occupational therapist, Grace O'Sullivan, life doesn't have to stop because a diagnosis of dementia.
AUT recently hosted the Dementia Care conference which was attended by a number of international experts. O'Sullivan - who presented her PhD research which examines the daily lives of people living in the community with dementia - says that more needs to be done to address dementia in New Zealand.
"A diagnosis of dementia can signal fear of the unknown and a sense of hopelessness for the future. With an increasingly ageing population in New Zealand we need to look at improving the quality of life for people diagnosed with dementia," she says.
O'Sullivan - a keen advocate of occupational therapy and recognised champion of older people's right to quality of life - was named New Zealander of the Year (Health and Medicine) 2010 by North and South magazine in recognition for her work with people with dementia. She was also awarded the Frances Rutherford Lecture award in 2010.
Dementia currently ranks as the fourth leading cause of death among the population aged 65 years and over. It affects more 41,000 people in New Zealand. By 2050 it is estimated this number will double placing increased demands on families and an already over-burdened health system.