CANBERRA, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- A national survey has found that many Australians living with dementia report positive wellbeing and support from family and friends, but face complex pathways to diagnosis and difficulties accessing support services.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) survey, conducted between May 2025 and January 2026, collected responses from 266 people living with dementia and 1,648 carers, an AIHW statement said Monday.
Three in five people living with dementia reported receiving a diagnosis within three years of first noticing symptoms, while fewer than half said they were diagnosed within the first year, the survey found, adding that barriers included delays in seeking advice, delays in tests and specialist appointments, symptoms being attributed to other causes, and appointment costs.
The survey also highlighted the burden on carers. Nearly one-third spent 70 hours or more each week caring for someone living with dementia, while more than seven in 10 women and six in 10 men reported feeling overwhelmed by their responsibilities.
Around two-thirds of carers recorded low wellbeing, with those providing 70 hours or more of care a week reporting lower wellbeing than those providing fewer hours, it said.
Nearly 459,000 Australians are estimated to be living with dementia in 2026, with the number expected to exceed 1 million over the next 35 years, said AIHW spokesperson Bronte O'Donnell, noting that the findings would help Australia better understand how dementia affects people's everyday lives.
Monday marks World Alzheimer's Day, observed as part of World Alzheimer's Month. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for an estimated 60-70 percent of cases worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. ■
