Alzheimers NZ - Web Capture - 10 Warning Signs and Booklets
Alzheimers NZ
Sector evidence
Sector body
June 2026
Next review not yet scheduled
New Zealand
Medium confidence
published
SNZ editorial review
Evidence boundary: This record summarises the cited source. It does not establish local availability, individual eligibility, or professional advice.
Key Points
- •Treatable causes can be ruled out — depression, thyroid disorders, vitamin B12 deficiency, infections, medication side effects, and sleep apnoea can all cause dementia-like symptoms.
- •Early access to treatment — medications for Alzheimer's disease (acetylcholinesterase inhibitors) are most effective when started early.
- •Time to plan — legal and financial planning (enduring power of attorney, advance care directive, will) can be made while the person can still participate.
- •Access to support — Alzheimer's NZ, Dementia NZ, carer support, and community services.
- •Maximising quality of life — lifestyle changes, cognitive stimulation, and social engagement can help maintain function longer.
Full Summary & Notes
- https://alzheimers.org.nz/about-dementia/10-warning-signs/ (opens in a new tab) - https://alzheimers.org.nz/about-dementia/booklets-and-factsheets/ (opens in a new tab) - Forgetting recently learned information, important dates, or events. - Relying on memory aids (sticky notes, electronic reminders) or family members for things they used to handle alone. - Asking for the same information repeatedly. - Normal ageing: Occasionally forgetting names or appointments but remembering them later. - Struggling to complete routine tasks that have been done for years — e.g., cooking a familiar recipe, managing a budget, using a mobile phone or remote control. - Losing track of the steps involved in a task (e.g., making a cup of tea). - Normal ageing: Occasionally needing help with the settings on a new appliance. - Forgetting simple words or substituting unusual words (e.g., calling a 'watch' a 'hand-clock'). - Difficulty following or joining a conversation. - Stopping mid-sentence and not knowing how to continue. - Normal ageing: Sometimes having trouble finding the right word. - Losing track of dates, seasons, or the passage of time. - Forgetting where they are or how they got there. - Getting lost on a familiar street or in their own neighbourhood. - Normal ageing: Forgetting the day of the week but figuring it out later. - Making poor decisions — e.g., giving away large sums of money,
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Physical p. 3 explicitly says Published April 2024; May 2024 PDF upload/modification clues and the [13 May publisher launch story](https://www.ageingwellchallenge.co.nz/ka-mua-ka-muri/) are separate dates. The preserved 116-page file matched the current publisher download on 10 October 2026. For present clinical information use [Health NZ dementia guidance](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/health-topics/conditions-treatments/brain-and-nerves/dementia); the book’s research tools and reported uptake do not establish current nationwide availability.
The [publisher’s publications list](https://alzheimers.org.nz/explore/advocacy/publications/) identifies the August 2024 submission. The [Health Committee’s later release](https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/committees-press-releases/health-committee-reports-findings-of-aged-care-inquiry-to-the-house/) records its final report on 20 November 2025; that report is distinct from this submission. Dementia NZ published its [successor 2026–2031 sector plan article](https://dementia.nz/dementia-mate-wareware-action-plan-2026-2031/) on 24 September 2025. The submission’s blanket no-treatment statement should not guide care: current [Health NZ](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/health-topics/conditions-treatments/brain-and-nerves/dementia) and [WHO](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia) guidance discuss symptom management and support. The [Ministry’s endorsement release](https://www.health.govt.nz/information-releases/endorsement-of-improving-dementia-mate-wareware-services-in-aotearoa-new-zealand-action-plan) records Cabinet endorsement of the September 2021 sector plan; endorsement remains distinct from full implementation.
The [HDC publisher page](https://www.hdc.org.nz/our-work/aged-care-commissioner/amplifying-the-voices-of-older-people-in-aotearoa-new-zealand/), dated 7 March 2024 for the main report, also links this separate April 2024 desktop review. Its cover spells the author Jane Ferriera, while Author metadata spells Jane Ferreira; both clues are preserved. For present legal rights use the [HDC Code](https://www.hdc.org.nz/your-rights/about-the-code/code-of-health-and-disability-services-consumers-rights/), rather than treating this historical author’s review as legislation or an investigation decision.
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