My name is Nancy, I am the wife of the late Michael Cumming, mother to our son, Nelson and a teacher at Magdalene College, Narellan. 

A hand shake with Michael's geriatrician with a promise to make myself available to improve the plight of people just like Mike and me, free falling through the Health System, has led to this presentation. 

Take the journey of the carer who realised the need for a multi-faceted approach to improve outcomes for people and families walking with dementia. 
I want to focus on the importance of relationships and connections and saying yes to formal and informal networks of both research and support. 
I understand the outrage over the standard and quality of Age Care specifically in my local area of the Macarthur. It is a no brainer that there is outrage over the total health and care systems. They are clumsy, impersonal and process, not overly relationship driven. It is essential as carers that we set the bar high for the dignity of our loved ones. Be proactive. It is up to us to be agents of change. 

Change the way we think, change the system and change how we are treated.