Adrienne Francis, using her profile for greater dementia awareness
Posted on
You watch her deliver the nightly news on the ABC, but Canberra journalist Adrienne Francis also has another, very important, job.
She is the sole carer for her mother Margot, who is navigating a journey of dementia.
And today she is announced as Dementia Australia Ambassador – ahead of Canberra Memory Walk & Jog, the major fundraising event for Dementia Australia.
Sadly, Adrienne and her mother are no strangers to the pain and loss of this diagnosis.
Three generations of women in their family have been diagnosed with dementia and two of whom have since passed away.
“As a small child in the 1980’s, I watched my mother struggle to care for both me and my grandmother, following grandma’s diagnosis with dementia,” Adrienne says.
At that time there was significant fear surrounding dementia, stigmatising those living with the condition and their families. There were few effective treatment options for patients in Australia, or acknowledgment of the critical role that community carers can play, or the specialised education and support that can help families.
“Back then my mother was working full-time while also caring for grandma at home and I recall that period being very emotionally fraught and challenging for mum, as well as for grandad and myself.”
Four years ago, Adrienne’s aunt passed away after living with a late diagnosis of dementia in residential aged care, that was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown measures and social isolation.
Then the very next year Adrienne’s mother was diagnosed with early onset dementia.
Adrienne and her mother Margot
“It felt really daunting and at times quite overwhelming when my mother was diagnosed in 2023.”
“There was still a lot of fear, grief, shock, sadness and worry for me in absorbing the impact of mum’s diagnosis and in trying to work out how to best support my mother, as her only other family member living in Australia.”
Her mother began to experience short-term memory loss including forgetting and confusing people’s names, pin numbers and challenges with some wider word finding. She had a reduced capacity to negotiate and navigate complex decision-making, needing more time to complete routine tasks.
Adrienne praises the work of Dementia Australia in providing her and her mum with invaluable help.
She initially called the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500, shortly after her mother was diagnosed, to access free and confidential support and to seek referrals to DA’s services.
“Accessing Dementia Australia’s services gave us practical tools, direction, comfort and reassurance when we needed it most.”
Adrienne and her mother initially joined a seven-week group-based Living With Dementia Program for carers and loved ones with a recent dementia diagnosis. Adrienne also joined a 3-week group-based course, created especially for daughter carers.
“We have been so fortunate to forge supportive and lasting bonds with the members of the group’s that we originally met through Dementia Australia.”
Adrienne and her mother have also accessed DA’s free and confidential counselling services.
“I was grateful to be able to speak to the patient, compassionate and kind counsellors who have a deep knowledge of the issues that families experience, particularly in the early stages of mum’s diagnosis,” Adrienne said.
“It was also helpful for mum to have her own private conversations with a separate DA counsellor.”
“Understanding dementia and knowing what support is available to help makes a huge difference for families like mine. My mother continues to live well with early-stage dementia in the community, and I also feel more resilient as her only carer.”
Adrienne wants to use her platform to raise awareness about preventing cognitive decline, the importance of assembling a collaborative team of primary and allied health professionals, the power of social connection, the promise of non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions and to raise the profile of younger working carers.
“Being named a Dementia Australia Ambassador is both a great honour and a privilege. I hope that by sharing my experiences I can offer some hope to other younger working carers and families navigating the impact of a diagnosis and looking for ways to live well with dementia.”
Adrienne noted that with three other close family members to have been diagnosed with dementia, it is only natural that she would be concerned about being at a higher risk of potentially developing dementia.
But while dementia can be hereditary, this is quite rare, according to Dementia Australia.
“While having several close relatives with dementia increases my risk, it does not mean that I will develop the condition. In fact, the current evidence shows that with significant increased awareness raising and investment in resources and brain health campaigns, globally 45 per cent of all dementia cases are avoidable.”
Her mum’s diagnosis has motivated her to try to reduce her dementia risk in several ways.
“I am prioritising more regular health checks, and I am now doing more to look after my body and mind. Over the past year I joined a martial arts club (wing chung), resumed yoga classes, and became a regular at Saturday parkrun. In recent months I have also resumed a gym membership and have been really enjoying regular early morning pump and core classes! I’m also working to get good sleep, eat more heart-healthy meals and reduce my alcohol consumption. This remains a work in progress…”
Adrienne will be MCing the Canberra Memory Walk & Jog, which brings communities together to raise vital funds and awareness to support people living with dementia, their families and carers. To find a Memory Walk & Jog event near you, or to sign up, visit memorywalk.com.au.To read more about Dementia Australia’s Patrons and Ambassadors visit dementia.org.au.
