Welcome to the Iris Appleyard Foundation, established to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their families and carers in Western Australia.
Iris Appleyard was my wife and the mother of my three daughters – Wendy, Helen and Ingrid. Iris was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in the mid 1990s.
As you will see, when you navigate through this website, Iris was a talented artist. Some of her paintings and writings reflect how she felt as Alzheimer’s disease increasingly damaged her brain function.
Caring for someone with dementia is demanding. It can mean putting career, family and other commitments “on hold” in order to take on the role of carer.
Dementia is a nation wide epidemic (1). There are currently 22,000 Western Australians with dementia. This figure is expected to grow to 80,000 by 2050 (2).
Government funding to Alzheimer’s Australia WA Ltd so they can provide care to a person with dementia in their own home generally provides for only 6 hours per week – barely enough time to give that person a shower every day. Care beyond this can cost $50 per hour.
Fortunately I had the support of my daughters throughout Iris’ battle with this dreadful disease and she was able to stay at home with us. Others are not so fortunate.
Iris and Reg Appleyard at
Iris' Art Exhibition, 1993
The Iris Appleyard Foundation has been established by Iris’ family, in conjunction with Alzheimer’s Australia WA Ltd., to help support people with dementia, their families and carers.
You can improve the quality of life for a person with dementia by making a direct donation or by purchasing caring hours. All methods are tax deductible and receipts are issued.
Your donation to the Iris Appleyard Foundation will be used by Alzheimer’s Australia WA to provide a professional carer into the home of a person living with dementia, beyond the government-allocated 6 hours per week.
Not only will your support improve that person’s quality of life by allowing him or her to stay in the security and comfort of their own home, it will allow the family or regular carer a break.
