Don finds ‘community’ through iSupport for Dementia program

Resthaven Community Services clients, Don and Glenys, have been married for more than 63 years.

Glenys, a retired schoolteacher, began noticing changes to her abilities around five or six years ago. She couldn’t do things, such as typing, that she had been able to do for years. She also noticed she was having trouble with her memory and handling money. Don began taking on the tasks of running the household and doing the cooking.

It wasn’t until two years ago that Glenys was officially diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia.

Recently, as Glenys’ carer, Don was invited to be a participant in the World Health Organization’s iSupport for Dementia program, delivered by Resthaven and Flinders University.

Along with other participants, Don completed a set of online education modules targeting his learning needs as a carer as well as joining with other carers in facilitated online support meetings. These meetings allowed Don to share his real-life experience, and to hear from others about their own situations. The group later met face-to-face in a social outing.

For Don, the best part of the program ‘was sharing experiences. This was made even more valuable when we met in person’.

For more information about the program, contact joanne.smart@resthaven.asn.au or call on 0488 751 495.