Carers and care needs of people with dementia

The level of care required for people with dementia depends on the progression of their dementia and will vary depending on individual circumstances, but the level of care required will increase as the dementia progresses. Carers are people who provide ongoing, informal assistance (help or supervision) to people with disability or older people. Carers play an important role in looking after family members and friends with dementia, and are pivotal in Australia's aged care, health-care, disability and social systems. 

The following pages present statistics and information on:

See Dementia in priority groups for more information on carers and care needs of people with dementia among different population groups, including among First Nations people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. 

Refer to the How do care needs differ by place of residence data tables and  Carer data tables for the underlying data presented in these pages. 

Key statistics 

In 2022, it is estimated there are between 137,600 and 354,200 unpaid carers of people with dementia who live in the community
Half of primary carers of people with dementia in 2018 were caring for their partner with dementia
47% of primary carers of people with dementia in 2018 were providing on average 60 or more hours of care every week
41% of primary carers of people with dementia in 2018 reported that they frequently felt weary or lacked energy
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