Conditions we support
Lewy body dementia support in Queensland
Good days, hard days. The same team.
About the condition
Understanding Lewy body dementia
Lewy body dementia is caused by tiny clumps of protein, called Lewy bodies, that build up inside brain cells. They affect thinking, movement, sleep and behaviour.
There are two closely related conditions. In dementia with Lewy bodies, problems with thinking come first, or at about the same time as movement problems. In Parkinson's disease dementia, a person has had Parkinson's disease for at least a year, and usually much longer, before dementia develops. Read more on our Parkinson's disease dementia page.
Common signs include:
- big changes in alertness and attention from day to day, or hour to hour
- seeing things that aren't there (visual hallucinations), often people or animals
- stiffness, slow movement, a shuffling walk and falls
- acting out dreams during sleep
- dizziness or fainting when standing up.
Memory may be less affected early on than in Alzheimer's disease. There is no cure yet. Some medicines may help with symptoms.
Some people with Lewy body dementia are very sensitive to certain antipsychotic medicines, which is why medication oversight matters. Always talk to the person's doctor before any medicine is started or changed.
Daily life
How it can affect daily life
The hardest part is often how much things change from day to day.
Fluctuations.
A person may be bright and chatty in the morning, then drowsy or confused by afternoon.
Hallucinations.
Seeing people or animals that aren't there. Some people aren't bothered by them. Others find them frightening.
Movement and falls.
Stiffness, slowness and balance problems raise the risk of falls.
Sleep.
Acting out dreams, daytime sleepiness and broken nights are common.
Swallowing.
Swallowing can get harder over time, which needs care at mealtimes.
Mood.
Anxiety, low mood and loss of interest are common.
Our support
How we support people living with Lewy body dementia
We keep the same workers with the same person. That's how we notice when something is different, and act on it early.
Dementia Home Care
Consistent workers at home, with personal care, meals, outings and active overnight support.
Community Nursing
Registered Nurse led care at home in Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and Toowoomba.
High Intensity and Complex Care
Swallowing support and other complex health needs, with Registered Nurse oversight.
Specialist Support Coordination
A coordinator who plans ahead and keeps the treating team in the loop.
Supported Independent Living
Homes purpose built for dementia, with 1:1 or 2:1 support and active overnight support where needed.
Short Term Accommodation and Respite
Breaks for family, at home or in one of our respite homes.
Medium Term Accommodation
A safe home for up to 90 days, sourced in 5 to 7 days. If the person is in hospital after a fall or illness, our Hospital to Home pathway brings everything together.
Our team
Our team is trained for this.
Lewy body dementia needs workers who know the person and clinical oversight behind them.
- Every person on our team is dementia trained, in every role.
- Clinical oversight by a Registered Nurse, who leads high intensity supports and community nursing.
- 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.
Funding
Lewy body dementia and the NDIS
People living with Lewy body dementia or Parkinson's disease dementia can apply to the NDIS if they meet the access requirements. Because symptoms change so much, evidence should describe both good days and hard days.
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.
We can help you work out what evidence is needed and how to show the full picture.
In their words.
“Mum has Lewy Body Dementia. Her needs change day to day, sometimes hour to hour. We'd tried three different agencies before Dementia Care Queensland and none of them could keep up. Now, the same two workers come every week. They know her routines. They know her triggers. They know when she's having a hard day before she does. That consistency, that knowledge, has changed everything for our family.”
“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.”
“I'm 54 and I've been living with vascular dementia for two years. I still want to live. I still want to be me. The team at Dementia Care Queensland gets that. They've helped me stay in my own home, keep doing the things I love, and plan for a future I can feel dignified about.”
Questions about Lewy body 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.
The same faces, every week.
Call any time, day or night. Referrals answered the same business day, always within 24 hours.