Dementia North - Waikato

16/06/2026

🤔 Have you ever thought about volunteering, but never quite got around to it?

Maybe life was busy. Maybe you weren't sure what you could offer. Maybe you thought someone else was better suited.

Mike thought much the same.

After retiring, he remembered the volunteers who had supported his own parents when they needed help. He'd always told himself that, if he ever had the opportunity to give something back, he'd take it.

Now, every Tuesday morning, you'll find him at our Ōrewa Walking Group in Auckland, sharing coffee, conversation and plenty of laughs with people living with dementia | mate wareware, care partners and fellow volunteers.

His advice is refreshingly simple:

💬 ""People are people.""

This National Volunteer Week, we're celebrating people who quietly make our community stronger by showing up. 💚

👉🏼 Read Mike's story and find out more about volunteering: https://dementia.nz/people-are-people/

15/06/2026

This week is Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu | National Volunteer Week, a chance to celebrate the thousands of people across Aotearoa who quietly give their time to help others.

At Dementia North, our volunteers are an important part of our Living Well programmes. They share conversations over a cup of tea, join in activities, encourage laughter, and help create the welcoming spaces that so many people living with dementia | mate wareware and their whānau value each week.

🧡 Throughout the week, we'll be introducing you to some of these incredible people but first, we’d like to say a big ngā mihi | thank you to our 50+ North volunteers – we couldn’t do what we do without you!

Carolyn joined our Dementia North - Auckland Mount Albert Young Onset Dementia group thinking she might be able to make a difference to others. What she didn't expect was how much she would gain herself.

💬 "What I really love about the group is just the fun we have. So much fun, honestly. The social connection is just amazing, and it really lights me up to see all the clients interacting and having a great time."

👉🏼 Read Carolyn’s story here: https://dementia.nz/it-really-lights-me-up/

14/06/2026

When Mike was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, he found himself reflecting on memories from earlier in life to help make sense of the changes he was experiencing.

In our latest In Touch, Mike shares his story in his own words, comparing his dementia journey to driving through Waikato fog (which many of you will know well) — learning when to slow down, adapt, and ask for help.

Alongside Mike's story, you'll also find practical tips for care partners, local events, and stories from other families navigating dementia | mate wareware.

If you think someone in your whānau or community would find it helpful, please share it with them.

📖 Read this edition: https://zcu.nz/KO9y?m=0

And if you'd like future editions delivered to your inbox, you can sign up here:

📩 Subscribe: https://dementia.nz/sign-up/

12/06/2026

Sexuality, intimacy and relationships don't stop being important after a dementia | mate wareware diagnosis.

Yet for many whānau, care partners and professionals, these can be some of the most difficult conversations to have.

Join Dementia New Zealand for a Dementia Talk exploring topics including consent, communication, changing behaviours, relationships, identity, and how to support connection while balancing dignity, rights and safety.

Hosted by Winifred Henderson, Senior Educator, with guest speaker Ashley Roberts from Hammond Innovations (Australia).

📅 Friday, 3 July 2026
⏰ 10am – 11:30am
💻 Online via Zoom
🎟 Free for care partners and whānau
🎟 $50+GST for individual professionals

Can't attend live? Register and receive a recording after the event.

👉🏼 Book now:

Part one of a two-part series with Winifred Henderson and Ashley Roberts (Hammond Innovations, Australia), navigating the complexities of sexuality, intimacy and dementia.

10/06/2026

"The mist was often early along, with the fog across the road when we went through dips and gulleys."

One of our Dementia North - Lakes clients, Mike, has written a deeply personal account of his journey with Alzheimer's disease, drawing on memories of driving through Waikato fog as a young reporter.

For him, the gradual changes brought by dementia | mate wareware feel similar. First the mist. Then the fog. Then learning to slow down, adapt, and accept help when it's needed.

Mike's story is thoughtful and beautifully written. We’re grateful that he's chosen to share it with our community. 🧡

👉🏼 Read Mike's story and hear, in his own words, how he is making sense of life with Alzheimer's disease.

Mike reflects on his journey into Alzheimer's, drawing on a young reporter's memories of driving through Waikato fog — and how the Lakes Social Group helps when the mist comes down.

09/06/2026

"Sometimes it's the smallest changes around the home that can make the biggest difference.

Things like reducing clutter, improving lighting, using clear labels, or making key items easier to find can help support someone living with dementia | mate wareware to stay independent and feel more confident in their surroundings.

We've put together some practical tips to help make everyday life a little easier for both the person living with dementia and those supporting them.

🏡 Read more here:

The wonderful thing about a dementia friendly home is that it will support the wellbeing and comfort of all who live in it, enabling the home to run smoothly

07/06/2026

Could technology help someone living with dementia | mate wareware stay connected, maintain routines, or feel more confident day to day?

Join Dementia New Zealand for the next Dementia Talk, where three Aotearoa New Zealand innovators will share practical tools developed to support people living with dementia, care partners and whānau.

You'll hear about:
📱 An app designed to capture memories and life stories
📱 Tools that support routines, wellbeing and family connection
📱 Simple technology designed for people who find standard devices difficult to use.

Whether you're supporting someone living with dementia, exploring options for yourself, or simply curious about what's available, this session offers a practical look at technology being used right here in Aotearoa.

📅 Friday, 26 June 2026
⏰ 10am – 11am
💻 Online via Zoom

Can't attend live? Register anyway and receive the recording afterwards.
🎟 Free for people living with dementia, care partners and whānau.

👉🏼 Register now:

Join Winifred Henderson and guests Alister Robertson (My Life’s Journey), Angela Edwards (Elli Cares) and Julie Caldwell (Kitcal) for a discussion on digital apps that support people with dementia, care partners and whānau.

06/06/2026

💜 We love hearing from our community. Our Lakes team received this email recently:

𝘏𝘪 𝘛𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘢

𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩. 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯, 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦. 𝘋𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦, 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝘞𝘦'𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 / 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺.

𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘪𝘧 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴.

𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘻𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 Dementia North - Lakes 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘪𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴. 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳.
𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴
𝘚𝘶𝘦

If you’re like Mike and have been recently diagnosed with dementia, please reach out. Support is available:

Dementia Waikatio provides free education and support to people and their whānau to continue to live fulfilling lives following a Dementia diagnosis.

04/06/2026

Some families spend years trying to explain away the changes.

Stress. Anxiety. Menopause. Burnout.

For Fiona’s whānau, it took time before anyone realised her mum was living with young onset dementia | mate wareware.

By then, so much had already changed.

As Fiona was becoming a new mum herself, she was also helping care for her own mother.

💬 “I had my baby, and I was also looking after Mum… I remember feeling so overwhelmed and exhausted.”

Young onset dementia can be difficult to recognise, especially when someone is under 65 and otherwise physically well. Many whānau find themselves trying to make sense of behaviours, emotions and changes long before they ever receive a diagnosis.

Fiona shared her story in a recent edition of Mind Matters because she knows how isolating that time can feel.

💬 “You’re doing a good job… the love and effort you put in may not feel appreciated, but it means a lot.”

If parts of this story feel familiar, you’re not alone.

👉🏼 Read Fiona’s story here:

Fiona Faithfull remembers her mum, Carol, as intelligent, a community leader, and the most patient, unjudgmental mother. But when Carol developed young onset

02/06/2026

In Episode 3 of The Hui, John Boynton travels to Wairoa to meet the whānau and community leaders fighting to keep their kaumātua close to home. With no care ...