Experiencing changes at work

If you are diagnosed with dementia, depending on your work role, you may be able to continue working or make adjustments to your role.

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For some people the first signs of dementia may be experienced at work. For example, Janice described how her husband, Bernie, an experienced head teacher and school principal, worked at a local university in semi-retirement.

“…something wasn’t quite right. He came home one evening from work and said, ‘I’ve just had a complete mental blank…I think I’m going to have to tell them that I can’t do it’. He was struggling with paperwork and was worried about something happening in front of a room full of students.”

Stephen Grady first noticed changes in himself at work.

“I was an Electrical Metrologist and I kept second guessing myself when performing tasks that I’d previously been confident in. After persistent urging from my wife, who is a former nurse, we convinced my GP to refer me for an MRI. This led to my diagnosis of younger onset Alzheimer’s at the age of sixty.”

If you have experienced changes in the ability to do your job, download the Checklist for dementia symptoms and changes. Use the checklist to monitor changes and to start a conversation with your GP, nurse or health professional as well as your family.

Working after a dementia diagnosis

If you are diagnosed with dementia, depending on your work role, you may be able to continue working or make adjustments to your role.

Sometimes people who want to continue working worry about telling their employer and how their employer might react. Fortunately, in Australia, there are laws that protect people with disabilities, including dementia, at work. This means that your employer may not be able to terminate your employment just because you have dementia.

If your company has a human resources (HR) department, the HR staff can help you understand your rights at work and help you talk to your manager.

Some employers are supportive of staff with dementia and offer different positions that suit your skills and keep you working. Some employers are less supportive or are not able to make these adjustments.

Employers have a legal obligation to provide reasonable adjustments for all people with disabilities, including those caused by dementia. Read more on the Australian Human Rights Commission website. Refusing to make reasonable changes is illegal discrimination.

You may wish to talk with colleagues about your diagnosis. Your colleagues might notice your work has changed. Explaining your diagnosis and how they can support you can help avoid negative judgements. For more advice, visit Forward with Dementia with articles on s haring your diagnosis and managing stigma from other s.

If you do experience stigma in the workplace, read the Face Dementia page on How to reduce dementia stigma.

The decision to stop working

Some people decide to stop working when they receive a dementia diagnosis. They may be able to access their superannuation early (for more information, see the Dementia Australia Document: Superannuation and Deme ntia. Alternatively, they may be eligible for a disability pension through Centrelink.

Steven Grady describes:

“I was relieved when my employer was supportive of my diagnosis and offered me a redundancy.”

If you do decide to stop working, make sure you continue to be physically, socially and cognitively active. Some people with dementia have found value and great satisfaction in volunteering, including working as a Dementia A dvocate.

For more information read the section: Supporting health and wellbeing on the Forward with Dementia website.