Imelda Gilmore

Imelda is an experienced Dementia Advocate, a voluntary role she sees as a privilege and which she has fulfilled since caring for her husband during his journey with young onset Alzheimer’s disease, which culminated in his death aged 68 in 2016.

Over the past eleven years, Imelda has spoken up for those living with dementia in all forms of media, including television, radio, speaking at conferences, forums, seminars and workshops, printed articles, and research journals amongst others. She sits on several consumer advisory committees and research ethics committees.

Imelda is particularly passionate about the need to provide the very best in palliative care and end-of-life care for those living with dementia. In this context she has been involved with researchers in several universities in Australia and overseas and continues to make a significant contribution to consumer advisory groups in the research arena.

Imelda also loves her work as a pastoral care volunteer in a nursing home, coming alongside those residents who are in the late or last stages of their dementia journey, bringing comfort in meeting their spiritual needs. She also fulfils this role remotely in offering telephone support for a number of women living alone in remote locations.

Lived experience – Older Australians; People with chronic diseases; Mental health

Areas of particular interest – Digital health literacy; My Health Record; my health app; Interoperability, and Electronic prescriptions