Right at Home Australia Managing Director Daryl Sahli, has been invited to speak at the upcoming Dementia Strategy Summit from October 27 to 29 in Sydney.

The provision of services to families suffering under the impact of dementia and Alzheimers is an important focus for Right at Home in Australia.

The number of people with dementia in Australia is projected to rise one third in less than 10 years to 2020, according to a recent report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). While projection methods vary, the number of people with dementia is estimated to reach almost 400,000 by 2020, and there could be around 900,000 by 2050. An estimated 298,000 Australians had dementia in 2011, and 62% of these people were women. Most people (74%) were aged over 75. Dementia was the third leading single cause of death in 2010, accounting for 6% of all deaths in Australia.

'Effective strategies need to be developed to help families cope when a loved one is diagnosed with dementia,' says Daryl Sahli. 'Home care companies need to play their part in designing and implementing innovative care pathways. I want to focus on finding ways to help dementia sufferers stay at home for as long as is possible. My Dad is 87 this year and was diagnosed with dementia more than 10 years ago. He is still at home with my Mom who is 83 and with some simple strategies they have found ways to cope.'

'One thing my Mom has done is collect old and broken toasters from neighbours which she gives my Dad to fix. He was an electrician by trade so spends at least an hour each day taking apart an old toaster leaving it in a million pieces but happy in the knowledge that it is 'fixed'. My Mom makes a point of making a fuss about how well the toaster is working giving my Dad that positive feeling of making a contribution, of being needed and valued. That's what it's all about.'

The conference in Sydney is being hosted by Akolade at the Pullman Quay Grand in Sydney Harbour.