About

Alzheimer’s WA advocates, educates, supports and engages the 48,000 Western Australians living with all types of dementia.

Dementia is the leading cause of death of women in Australia and the second leading cause of death of all Australians. Without a medical breakthrough, the number of Western Australians living with dementia is projected to increase rapidly to almost 150,000 in the next four decades. There is no cure.

Established in 1982, Alzheimer’s WA provides direct care, support, education and information to assist people living with dementia as well as their families and carers.

As the dementia care experts, Alzheimer’s WA works with those living with dementia and the organisations that care and support them, to have the greatest beneficial impact on their dementia journey.

Our services, advocacy, training and consultancy programs are based on a philosophy of understanding the lived experience of dementia. People living with dementia guide us, through all that we do.

Alzheimer’s WA also works in partnership with community, aged, health and disability providers. Our capacity-building model brings our dementia expertise to support the development of services and environments through training, consultancy and client service brokerage.

Our Vision

To see a world where people with dementia and their families are supported and valued throughout their dementia journey.

Our Philosophy

That dementia is a lived human experience rather than just a biological condition. We therefore embrace and support a holistic, person-centred approach that respects the individuality and the experience of those living with dementia.

Our Purpose

To improve the lived experience of those on the dementia journey through our advocacy, leadership, innovation, education, partnerships and holistic, person-centred care and support, and to support the pursuit of risk reduction, treatment and cure for dementia.

Our Values

Our passion to improve the experience of those living with dementia is supported by our values of:

• Purpose – We will be driven by purpose to improve the lives of people living with dementia through advocacy, education, partnerships and support a holistic person-centered approach.
• Accountability – We will take ownership for what we do in the timelines required. We will learn from the past and hold ourselves and others to account​.
• Integrity – We will act with integrity at all times​
• Empathy – We value our relationships and will treat people with kindness and look after each other and create an environment that fosters dignity and privacy.​
• Respect – We will treat people with respect, dignity and recognize and respect individuality. ​
• Quality and Safety – We will deliver quality services and strive for continued improvement and service excellence.​

Our services

As the dementia experts, we work to improve the lived experience of those living with dementia and their carers and families through advocacy, leadership, innovation, education, partnerships and holistic, person-centred care and support; and to support the pursuit of risk reduction, treatment and cure for dementia.

• We provide services and support to people living with dementia and their carers
• We provide training and education to families and friends as well as people working with people living with dementia
• We provide consultancy services to organisations who provide services to people living with dementia
• We also advocate and influence policy on behalf of people living with dementia and their carers

We are proud to deliver a state-wide Dementia Friendly Communities project; have one of the largest dementia specialist consultancies in Australia; and in partnership with the University of Wollongong delivers some of the broadest programs in dementia design. Alzheimer’s WA is recognised as delivering some of the world’s best dementia care settings in our Enabling Households™.

Alzheimer’s WA is by your side on the dementia journey.

Our advocacy

Alzheimer’s WA, as the leading voice for people living with dementia in Western Australia, advocates for a world where people with dementia and their families are supported on their dementia journey.

Alzheimer’s WA’s advocacy programs include the Dementia Advocates Program and Dementia Friendly Communities.

Dementia Advocates deliver a perspective on the lived experience of dementia that can only be provided by those on the dementia journey. Alzheimer’s WA has 58 Advocates, 10 of whom are people living with a diagnosis of dementia. Advocates raise awareness at events and fundraising appeals, and present at education and training workshops.

Alzheimer’s WA has been working towards creating Dementia Friendly Communities since 2014. We work with local government, service providers, businesses and the local community to ensure people living with dementia in the community are supported to continue living with meaning, purpose and value.

Our history

Alzheimer’s WA was established in 1982 by carers of people with dementia who saw the increasing need for a dementia-specific support organisation. In particular, a growing need of families for dementia specialist information and home support services. Alzheimer’s WA’s formation was supported by notable members of the Western Australian health profession, in particular Dr Dick Lefroy.

The organisation started life renting rooms in the (then) Homes of Peace facility at Subiaco before moving into purpose built premises at Shenton Park in 1993. Mary Chester House became Western Australia’s central hub for dementia specialist information, counselling, carer support, training and respite services. Recognising the need in regional Western Australia, the organisation commenced delivering services through regional hubs in York, Kalgoorlie, Albany and more recently in Mandurah.

Over 35 years, the organisation has grown significantly to respond to the needs of people living with dementia, their families and the wider community. Alzheimer’s WA continues to directly support people living with dementia, their families and carers. In addition, they offer training for individuals, organisations and community groups to improve the lived experience of dementia.

• 1982 – Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Society of WA formed
• 1985 – Dementia Specialist training commences for families and professionals
• 1988 – Dementia Specialist community in-home services commence
• 1990 – Changed name to Alzheimer’s Association WA to standardise with all States
• 1993 – Headquarters officially opened in Shenton Park including library and day centre facilities, Mary Chester House
• 1999 – Alzheimer’s Association National Conference held in Mandurah
• 2000 – Regional dementia specialist service hubs set up in Wheatbelt, Goldfields and Great Southern
• 2002 – Organisation changes its name to Alzheimer’s Australia WA and its status to “Company by Limited Guarantee”
• 2007 – Alzheimer’s Australia WA hosts Alzheimer’s Australia 12th National Conference in Perth
• 2014 – Exemplar Dementia Community Respite Cottage opened in Albany, Hawthorn House
• 2015 – Alzheimer’s Australia WA partners with WA Government to launch the countries first Dementia Friendly Communities State wide project
• 2015 – Alzheimer’s Australia WA hosts Alzheimer’s Disease International 30th Conference
• 2016 – Dementia specialist community hub opened in Mandurah, Ella’s House
• 2017 – Commenced trading as Alzheimer’s WA

For information and support please contact us on 1300 66 77 88.