Rachael Cvejic

The life expectancy of Australians with intellectual disability has increased over recent decades, resulting in a growing population of older people with intellectual disability. People with intellectual disability are more likely to develop dementia and more often at a younger age than people without intellectual disability. However, there is a lack of research focusing on the health of people with intellectual disability living with dementia. Similarly, little research has focused on understanding responsive behaviours (often called behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia) among people with intellectual disability living with dementia. This project will use multiple research methods to: 1) describe the health and mental health conditions experienced by people with intellectual disability living with dementia; 2) identify effective approaches to understanding responsive behaviours among people with intellectual disability living with dementia; and 3) co-design accessible resources about responsive behaviours and dementia for people with intellectual disability and their supporters. 

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Dr Rachael Cvejic is a registered psychologist and Senior Research Fellow working within the Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry at UNSW Sydney. Rachael’s work focuses on improving health outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disability, people living with dementia and other neurological conditions, and people with serious mental illness.