Conditions we support
Posterior cortical atrophy support in Queensland
When the eyes are fine but seeing is hard.
About the condition
Understanding posterior cortical atrophy
Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is damage to the back of the brain, the area that processes what we see. The eyes themselves are usually healthy. The problem is how the brain makes sense of the information.
PCA usually starts in a person's 50s or early 60s, so it is often young onset dementia. In most people, the cause is Alzheimer's disease. Less often, it is caused by other conditions, such as Lewy body disease.
Early on, memory and language are often fine. That's one reason PCA can take a long time to diagnose. Many people first see an optometrist or eye specialist, sometimes more than once, before PCA is found. Over time, other thinking skills are usually affected too.
There is no cure, but practical changes, good lighting and patient support make daily life easier.
Daily life
How it can affect daily life
Many of the first changes look like eye problems.
Reading and writing.
Losing your place on a page, or trouble with handwriting and spelling.
Judging distance.
Misjudging steps, kerbs, chairs or where to put down a cup.
Finding things.
Not seeing an object that's right in front of you, especially among clutter.
Getting dressed.
Trouble working out which way clothes go on.
Screens and numbers.
Difficulty using phones, computers and money.
Our support
How we support people living with posterior cortical atrophy
We follow the occupational therapist's advice on lighting, contrast and keeping things in the same place. We use spoken cues and touch, not only visual ones, and we let the person do as much as they can.
Dementia Home Care
Help with personal care, meals and everyday tasks at home, using spoken cues and steady routines.
Community Participation
Getting out safely, keeping up hobbies and staying connected, with a worker alongside.
Specialist Support Coordination
A coordinator who knows PCA and can link in the right therapy and equipment.
Short Term Accommodation and Respite
Breaks for family, at home or in a respite home.
Supported Independent Living
Homes purpose built for dementia, with 1:1 or 2:1 support, for when home is no longer safe.
Our team
Our team is trained for this.
PCA is rare. Our team learns the person before the first shift.
- Every person on our team is dementia trained, in every role.
- Every support worker completes a one week intensive induction before their first shift.
- Every worker is trained on the person's own functional capacity assessment and behaviour support plan before their first shift with them.
Funding
Posterior cortical atrophy and the NDIS
Because PCA usually starts before 65, many people with PCA can apply to the NDIS.
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.
Evidence from an occupational therapist about everyday tasks can be very helpful. We can help you work out what's needed.
In their words.
“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.”
“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.”
Questions about posterior cortical atrophy
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.
Practical support, patiently given.
Call any time, day or night. Referrals answered the same business day, always within 24 hours.