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Reading about other people’s experiences helped me emotionally and practically around my dad’s condition. My hope is that these reviews will raise awareness of the ever-increasing number of books (fiction and nonfiction) available to support and educate those of us affected by dementia.

If there are any books you would like reviewed, please send me the titles.

This review of The Year My Family Unravelled has been written by a guest reviewer, my partner, the writer Mia Farlane. My own book Dad, You’ve Got Dementia was published in July so I have not had time in the second half of the year to write reviews; I will be getting back to regular reviews in 2024.

- Kristen Phillips

Evaluating daylight at home with older people living with dementia: a pilot study

A new study aims to help understand how can improve the process when GPs assess whether a person living with cognitive impairment is safe to drive. The researchers will use this information to help develop resources that are appropriate for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Research Study: Experiences of the End of Life Choice 2019 Act amongst families and whānau

A group of researchers at the University of Auckland and the University of Otago are interested in improving the new assisted dying service in Aotearoa New Zealand. They are looking for participants who have supported a family member who passed away since the 7th November 2021, when the End of Life Choice Act (EOLC Act) was enacted. 

Alzheimer's New Zealand has announced the programme for their first new one-day event Repositioning Dementia: A new start.

The inaugural event – held both in person and online – is on Thursday 23 March at the National Library of New Zealand, Wellington.

It’s the first one-day event in a new series by the organisation.

 Annabel Grant, a researcher at Massey University, would like to talk to people living with dementia mate wareware about their friendships 

A new review of post-diagnostic community services for people living with dementia and their care partners has been produced to help guide New Zealand planning.

On 1 September, the first day of World Alzheimers Awareness Month, the New Zealand Dementia Foundation launched a major new educational initiative: Dementia STARs

A new Australian film focusing on a family’s experience of dementia opened in New Zealand cinemas on 4 August.

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand , in partnership with Te Aka Whai Ora Māori Health Authority, is seeking suitable applicants for seven positions on the National Dementia Mate Wareware Leadership and Advisory Group (DLG).

This is an exciting milestone in progressing the New Zealand Dementia Mate Wareware Action plan. We warmly encourage our NZ Dementia Foundation whānau to consider registering an expression of interest or nomination for this outstanding opportunity. 

Watch the Covid and Care webinar from December 2021

We are pleased to release our updated Dementia/Mate Wareware Action Plan.

The concern over concussions and head injury in sport leading to increased dementia risk has spread to rugby, as a special New Zealand Herald feature explains.

The CeleBRation Choir, a community singing group for adults living with an acquired neurological condition, has recorded a song written especially for them called Celebration.

Alister was diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer’s in 2014 and has become a vocal advocate in New Zealand and internationally.

The NZ Dementia Foundation  provided a briefing for the incoming Minister in December 2020: Dementia rising to the challenge.

A new all-of-government Action Plan aims to help ensure an inclusive economic recovery from COVID-19 where  people with disabilities and health conditions can participate in employment as they want to, on an equal basis to others.

An update to the 2017 Lancet Commission on dementia, prevention, intervention and care has been released.

The Health Minister has released the final report of the Health and Disability System Review, which makes a series of far-reaching recommendations.

A new British research study suggests that loneliness, but not social isolation, predicts the development of dementia in older people.

The Ministry of Health has published the Independent Review of COVID-19 Clusters in Aged Residential Care Facilities report.

A new website and free resources from the BBC focus on the uplifting potential of music for people living with dementia.

A University of Auckland study aims to use dance as a means of combating dementia.

We are very pleased to share with you the newly launched Dementia Action Plan for NZ. 

The journal "Dementia" has produced a special issue that may be a world first: an issue where the first author of every article is a person living with dementia.

91% of New Zealanders are frightened of dementia, according to a survey by Public Trust and Dementia New Zealand released in August 2019.

The latest Carers’ Strategy Action Plan is focused on improving the wellbeing of the one in 10 New Zealanders who care for a loved one with a disability, health condition, illness or injury.

The Angela Project was the largest study of young onset dementia ever carried out in the UK and was designed to look at how post-diagnostic support for people living with young onset dementia and the accuracy of diagnosis can be improved.

For people with dementia, music can be a useful tool to help them connect with others and reduce social isolation. Flourish, a new initiative by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Dementia Canterbury, aims to do just that. 

Alzheimers Otago’s launched a six-month pilot programme in February 2020 to help businesses to become more dementia friendly. 

BPAC (Best Practice Advocacy Centre) released new New Zealand guidance on recognising and managing early dementia in February 2020. 

In January 2020, New Zealand Professor Julian Paton’s neurological research hit the headlines.