02. What Actually is Dementia?

Most people think they know what dementia is. But the reality is quite different, and understanding it changes everything. In this episode, Lyndal unpacks what dementia actually is, why it's so much more than memory loss, and what families really need to know after a diagnosis lands. Whether you're supporting someone right now or simply want to be more informed, this episode will help everything else make more sense.In this episode:Why dementia is not a single disease - and what it actually isThe number of different types of dementia that exist, and why that matters for diagnosis and careA quick guide to the most common types of dementia and how each one tends to show up differentlyThe type of dementia where memory isn't the first thing to change, and why families often mistake it for something else entirelyWhat Younger Onset Dementia is, who it affects, and why the challenges are so differentThe statistics about childhood dementia that most people have never heardThe biggest myths about dementia, and the one that gives people the most hopeWhy the person living with dementia is still very much there, and what that means for how we support them.Links & ResourcesNational Dementia Helpline - free, confidential, 24/7: 1800 100 500Dementia Australia websiteDementia Support Australia websiteDementia Doulas AustraliaListen to episode 1 - What is a Dementia Doula?Compassionate Transitions websiteConnect with Lyndal Harris on LinkedInFollow Lyndal on FacebookFollow Lyndal on Instagram