Help families find joy this season

Just a month before Christmas last year, Jonathan received the shocking news — he had younger onset dementia at only 55.

His wife Sophie, heartbroken but determined to find help, reached out for support. That first call to the National Dementia Helpline brought them the guidance they needed to face the challenges ahead, connecting their family with essential services during an incredibly difficult time.

This Christmas, your support ensures that families like Jonathan's have access to the vital services they need — from emotional support to expert advice — so no one has to face dementia alone.

A profound impact on family life

Since the diagnosis, Sophie has moved from managing her small business part-time to running it full-time while also being primary carer for Jonathan, who helps at home as much as he can.

Family dinners have now become a poignant reminder of how dementia has changed their lives. Whenever overwhelmed by the lively conversation, Jonathan simply gets up and leaves halfway through – a heartbreaking departure from the once engaged father who always had educated answers for his daughters’ questions.

Your donation today can help families like Jonathan and Sophie’s navigate the complex journey of dementia, especially during the emotionally charged holiday season.

"I pretty much cry every day."

Sophie shared that every day she’s reminded of the dementia. But it's the bigger changes that truly shake her.

"The last two weeks we were going to medical appointments," she began, her voice wavering. "He just got out of the car, crossed the road and kept walking. Never in 30 years has he ever left me to walk by myself."

As the number of Australians living with dementia continues to grow, this heartbreaking condition is reaching into every corner of our lives.

Your donation could help a carer like Sophie access support like counselling and resources from the Dementia Australia library so she can process her emotions and remain resilient in the face of every challenge.