When his wife was diagnosed with dementia, Tom Anderson was shocked. "I didn't believe it at first," he said.
"There was just a noticeable little thing there and it's just been a slow decline ever since."
Margaret Anderson was diagnosed with dementia at 58. Now nearing 80, she received a level four home care package - the highest available - for seven years.
The Andersons pay "at least $1000 out of pocket" for 14-15 hours of care per week, which included five hours of respite care on Monday mornings.
The need for quality care for both service-recipients and their carers prompted the federal government to announce a raft of new aged reforms in this year's budget. A further $8 million investment for improving dementia respite care was announced on Tuesday.
Developed in partnership with the University of Tasmania and Dementia Support Australia, the Dementia Respite Education and Mentoring Project will provide education and training for aged care workers across the country, which includes 5200 respite workers.
Mr Anderson said in serving as his wife's primary carer, respite care was crucial.
"Any of that time you get to yourself to be able to think or do things is very important," he said.
And while it was a "fight" to secure quality caregivers for Mrs Anderson, he said they were "blessed" with their two regular carers.
"Yesterday [Margaret] went to the Ancient Egypt Exhibition at the National Museum ... she gets taken to those things and enjoys it," he said.
"While she's got something meaningful to do, she can feel that she's contributing, and I think that's important in all this."
Of primary importance was also Mr Anderson's ability to maintain social connection - something their quality caregivers allowed him to do.
"Getting out there and being with other people and having that focus on various social things is really really good," he said.
"You've got to have an interest."
While serving as his wife's primary carer, Tom was involved in the local Lions club, held positions as secretary and vice-president of Greenway Probus and the Canberra wing of National Seniors, and attended get-togethers for the Alchemy Chorus - a choir for people living with dementia and their carers - every Thursday morning.
"It does a wonderful thing two ways; it brings people with dementia along" and allows carers to interact - something Mr Anderson said was "very difficult".
University of Canberra dementia expert Nathan D'Cunha said social connection, particularly between carers, was critical.
A diagnosis "can be quite confronting and quite a challenging time for the carer", he said.
"When you bring together carers and give them education and help them develop a toolkit for the future gives them confidence for the future," he said.
Tom said despite challenges, he and his wife had been "very fortunate".
"It's been a partnership," he said. Mrs Anderson had worked as a maths teacher before her diagnosis, and Mr Anderson said "they wouldn't be where [they] are" without her work.
The couple celebrated their 50-year wedding anniversary in January this year, and on September 14 will celebrate Margaret's 80th birthday.
"Andersons believe in celebration," he said.
