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10 Headlines Alzheimers New Zealand Dementia (mate wareware) is one of New Zealand’s biggest healthcare challenges – and it will only get bigger as our population continues to age fast. And it’s very tough to live with. So, it’s really disappointing that people affected are still being let down by the health system. Our vision is for an inclusive and dementia friendly Aotearoa New Zealand, where people living with dementia (mate wareware) are valued, are able to participate in their families and communities, and get the help and support they need. A first small but positive step occurred recently when the Government endorsed the DementiaMateWareware Action plan and provided a small amount of funding for it in Budget 2023. We are looking forward to partnering with the new health system as it nowmoves to implement and fund that plan. People living with dementia (mate wareware) shape our work, through the Dementia Declaration and advice from our Advisory Group. We provide a wealth of information resources about living with dementia on our website, alzheimers.org.nz, much of which is slowly being translated for Māori and Pasifika communities. We’ve also established the Dementia Learning Centre with exciting educational opportunities including online carer education, cognitive stimulation therapy (CST), and New Zealand’s first Immersive Dementia Experience using state- of-the-art virtual reality. We are delighted to partner with Dr Makarena Dudley to adapt the CST programme for Māori. But we wouldn’t be worth our salt as a charity if our resources were not informed by evidence. Which is why we regularly commission research to inform policy and planning and to transform services – from the 2020 Dementia Economic Impact Report, This is our Story and Respite In New Zealand: We must do better to Evaluation of services for people living with dementia and The State of Caring in Aotearoa. These are all available on our website alzheimers.org.nz . We proudly support researchers through our Annual Fellowship – Dr Andrea Kwakowsky, Dr Makarena Dudley, and Dr Gary Chueng. And we support a network of 14 local Alzheimer's organisations across Aotearoa who provide community-based dementia services. This is but a taste of some our work. Our next big event is World Alzheimer's Month in September and this year we’re excited to launch an app designed by and for people living with dementia. We have lots of other things planned throughout the month, so watch this space! For more information, visit alzheimers.org.nz. Phone: 0800 004 001 Email: admin@alzheimers.org.nz Thank you to Alzheimers New Zealand for contributing this piece. A message from Alzheimers New Zealand Alzheimer’s and the other many forms of dementia have a devastating impact on the memories of those who are affected. We invited another New Zealand charity striving to help Kiwis affected by neurological conditions, Alzheimers New Zealand, to contribute to this edition of Headlines . We have the pleasure of working with Alzheimers New Zealand as members of the Neurological Alliance of New Zealand. The Neurological Alliance is a collaboration of 17 charities working on common areas to better outcomes for all those living with a neurological condition in New Zealand – see www.neurologicalalliance.org.nz