Not 000, But Need Help Now

Most crisis moments in dementia and aged care are not 000 emergencies — but they are still genuine crises. A person's changed behaviours can escalate at 2am. A carer can reach breaking point after months without sleep. A family member can notice something that feels like abuse. This page exists so nobody in one of those moments has to search for the right helpline: the emergency numbers are always at the top, and one tap on the situation above surfaces the right 24/7 service immediately.

These moments are common, not rare. Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia — including agitation, aggression and distress — will affect nearly all people with dementia over the course of the illness (Kales et al., 2015). Most people with dementia live at home, supported by family carers who experience higher psychological distress than other carers as caring demands increase (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2024). Globally, around 1 in 6 people aged 60 and over experience some form of abuse in community settings each year (World Health Organization, n.d.), and the 2021 Australian study found 14.8% of older Australians living in the community — about 1 in 7 — experienced abuse in the previous 12 months (Qu et al., 2021).

If you are worried about abuse, neglect or mistreatment, you have the right to be free from abuse and restrictive practices under the Statement of Rights in the Aged Care Act 2024 (Cth), and the right to raise concerns directly with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Reaching out is not an overreaction — it is exactly what these services exist for.