Conditions we support
Frontotemporal dementia support in Queensland
Behind the changes is the same person.
About the condition
Understanding frontotemporal dementia
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is caused by damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These areas help control behaviour, emotions, judgement and language. FTD often starts between the ages of 45 and 65, so it is a common cause of young onset dementia.
Memory is often fine early on. That is one reason FTD can be missed or mistaken for depression, a midlife crisis or another mental health condition.
There are two main types.
Behavioural variant FTD changes personality and behaviour. A person may become less interested in others, lose their usual manners, act on impulse, overeat, spend money unwisely or repeat the same routines. Often the person doesn't notice these changes in themselves.
Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) affects language first. A person may speak slowly and with effort, or lose the meaning of words and struggle to name everyday things. Some people with PPA have Alzheimer's disease as the cause, not FTD. Read about the three types of PPA on our primary progressive aphasia page.
Some people with FTD also develop movement problems, and some develop motor neurone disease. Some forms of FTD run in families. There is no cure, and FTD gets worse over time, but the right support makes a real difference to daily life.
Daily life
How it can affect daily life
FTD often affects relationships and judgement before memory.
Behaviour and personality
Saying or doing things that seem out of character, losing interest in others, or acting on impulse.
Judgement and money
Risky decisions, overspending or being taken advantage of by scams.
Eating
Wanting the same foods, often sweet ones, or eating too fast or too much.
Language
Struggling to find or understand words, or speaking less over time.
Relationships and family
Partners and children may feel the person has changed. Families need support and clear information.
Work and driving
Changes can show up at work or behind the wheel first. Talk to the doctor early.
Our support
How we support people living with frontotemporal dementia
People with FTD do best with steady routines, familiar faces and workers who don't take changed behaviours personally. We build support around what the person still enjoys.
Specialist Support Coordination
A coordinator who understands FTD, the NDIS and the need to plan ahead.
Dementia Home Care
A small, consistent team at home, with behaviour informed care and overnight support.
Community Participation
Keep doing the things the person loves, with structure and a calm worker alongside.
High Intensity and Complex Care
For changed behaviours, exit seeking (trying to leave home) and 2:1 support, with behaviour support plans followed exactly as written.
Supported Independent Living
Homes purpose built for dementia, with 1:1 or 2:1 support only.
Medium Term Accommodation
A home sourced in 5 to 7 days, for up to 90 days, while the long term plan comes together.
Short Term Accommodation and Respite
Breaks for family at home or in a respite home, including emergency respite. If the person is in hospital, our Hospital to Home pathway brings everything together.
Our team
Our team is trained for this.
Supporting someone with FTD takes skill and patience. Our team has both.
- Every person on our team is dementia trained, in every role.
- Advanced Maybo training before the first shift, with refresher training every two months.
- Every worker is trained on the person's own functional capacity assessment and behaviour support plan before their first shift with them.
- Monthly group clinical supervision with a clinical psychologist.
- Our staff are employed by us, not contracted through agencies.
Funding
Frontotemporal dementia and the NDIS
Because FTD often starts before 65, many people living with FTD can apply to the NDIS. Evidence about behaviour, judgement and safety is just as important as evidence about memory.
Who can apply to the NDIS
To become an NDIS participant, a person generally needs to:
- be under 65 when they apply
- live in Australia
- be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or a Protected Special Category Visa holder
- have a permanent impairment that substantially reduces their ability to manage everyday activities.
People who join the NDIS before they turn 65 can stay in the NDIS after 65. We can help gather evidence and guide you through the access process.
Reports should describe what a usual day and a hard day look like. We can help you work out what's needed and who can provide it.
In their words.
“We'd been through three support coordinators before we found Dementia Care Queensland. None of them really understood Dad's condition, they were juggling too many clients, too many diagnoses. Our coordinator here is different. She calls before we even know we need her. She's already thought about what Dad's going to need in six months. That kind of proactive care, we'd never experienced it before.”
“When Mum was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's at 58, we were completely lost. Every provider we called said they 'do dementia too' but it was always an afterthought. Dementia Care Queensland was the first place where the person on the other end of the phone actually understood what we were going through.”
“As a referring clinician, I need to trust that the providers I recommend can match the complexity of my patients' conditions. Dementia Care Queensland is the only NDIS provider I refer dementia patients to without hesitation. Their coordinators ask the right questions, understand disease progression, and plan ahead.”
Questions about frontotemporal dementia
Related conditions
This page is general information, not medical advice. For advice about your own health or care, talk to your GP or specialist. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Calm, steady support for the whole family.
Call any time, day or night. Referrals answered the same business day, always within 24 hours.