Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh is a Geriatrician in Melbourne, VIC. She works with older adults and helps families when ageing starts to bring bigger changes than expected.
A big part of her work is dementia care. That includes Alzheimer’s disease and other memory and thinking conditions. These can show up slowly, and then suddenly feel overwhelming. Deirdre looks at what’s going on, what might be causing symptoms, and what support makes day-to-day life easier.
In clinic, the focus is usually on understanding the person behind the diagnosis. Memory issues can affect sleep, mood, confidence, and safety at home. At times it also brings stress for carers. Deirdre takes things step by step, talking through options in plain language and making sure families know what to expect next.
Geriatric care is about more than one problem at a time. Older people can have several health issues happening together, and that can make symptoms harder to sort out. Deirdre helps coordinate care in a practical way, so medical treatment fits around everyday life, not the other way around.
Over time, she’s built experience helping people through the early stages of memory changes and also through later stages when support needs often grow. Every situation is different. Some families want a clear plan fast. Others need time to think and settle into new routines. Deirdre works with the pace of the household.
Her education and training are centred on caring for older adults and the health problems that can come with ageing. She aims to bring calm, clear thinking to tough appointments, especially when there’s no easy answer on the spot.
There’s a lot of information online, but not all of it is useful for real life. Deirdre helps translate what matters for you and your loved one—things like managing symptoms, reducing risk, and planning for the months ahead. At times that also means talking about support services and how care can be shared.
Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh is based in Melbourne and works with patients across the local community who are dealing with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. If you’re trying to make sense of changing memory or behaviour in an older family member, she can help you move from uncertainty toward a more grounded plan.