Support groups
In-person Auckland support group
‘The Young Ones’
Based in Auckland
For whānau and supporters of people living with Younger Onset Dementia
Monthly in-person meetings
Facilitated by Rhonda Preston-Jones, dementia educator
For more information, contact: rhondaprestonjones@gmail.com
In-person Wellington support group
Based in Wellington
For whānau and supporters of people living with Younger Onset Dementia
Bi-monthly in-person meetings
Facilitated by Yvonne Browning, Board and Day Service member with lived experience
For more information, contact: yodatdayservice@gmail.com
1. Peer group, ‘The Remarkables’
For people living with Younger Onset Dementia
Fortnightly online meetings
For more information, contact: Brigid Ryan: b.ryan@auckland.ac.nz
2. Supporter Group
Online support group for whānau and supporters of people who develop Younger Onset Dementia
Monthly online meetings
Open to whānau and supporters living anywhere in NZ
Discuss experiences and exchange practical information
Meetings are facilitated by Emma Fromings, a registered Mental Health nurse with a dementia speciality
For supporters of people living at home, and supporters of people living in care
Technical support is provided for first-time users of video conferencing software
For more information, contact: yodatonlinegroups@gmail.com
3. Adult Children Support Group
Specifically for adult children of people living with Younger Onset Dementia
Facilitated by Emma Fromings
For more information, contact: yodatonlinegroups@gmail.com
Emma Fromings, facilitator
Emma is a registered Mental Health nurse with a speciality in dementia. She has worked in the UK and NZ in a variety of roles for the NHS, for DHB’s, Aged Care Facilities, private Home Care Providers and more recently for Dementia Wellington. She developed and delivered an educational programme for Dementia Wellington and has established a Living Well programme for people in early stages of dementia.
Emma strongly believes that a wider recognition and understanding of dementia by health professionals, NZ society as a whole – including families/friends supporting a person living with dementia, leads to a better quality of life for that person and those around them.