Ms Fell was devastated when her father Ian - a former Illawarra Mercury general manager - was diagnosed with the most common form of dementia in 2007; passing away six years later.

Every day she wishes her dad was still here, yet she has compassion for the carers who revealed in a new study they had wished their loved one with Alzheimer's dead.

The first study into the impact of the disease on carers, published in the journal Ageing and Mental Health, found some had even contemplated killing the very person they were caring for.

Alzheimer's Australia welcomed the study findings, claiming they underlined the pressing need for more support programs for carers and family members. Ms Fell agreed.

"There's nothing worse than watching someone you love decline and I think these carers would have had these thoughts out of mercy and sadness - not in a vindictive way," she said. "Carers can be exhausted, both physically and also emotionally as they are slowly losing that person they are looking after."

Ms Fell's business, Jaffa Cafe & Catering, will host a fundraiser for Alzheimer's Australia NSW on Saturday night, to raise funds for a dementia forum in Wollongong in September.

The event, Artisans for Alzheimer's, is also a tribute to Mr Fell, and his daughter hopes it will raise much-needed awareness of the disease as well.

"When dad was first diagnosed I refused to believe it at first, although I eventually came to terms with it," Ms Fell said.

"Dad never forgot who I was, but what was hardest for me was that he lost his quick, sharp sense of humour and he also lost the ability to hold full conversations.

"However we found other ways to communicate - we played Scrabble, we did crosswords together, we read the paper together."

Ms Fell said one of the best pieces of advice she and her family received upon Mr Fell's diagnosis, was to "keep things familiar".

"Smell is a big memory trigger so wear the same perfume or aftershave for instance," she said. "Take your loved one to places they know and love."

Alzheimer's Australia CEO Carol Bennett said more than 1.2 million Australians were already caring for someone with dementia.

Projections indicated Australia would face a shortage of more than 150,000 paid and unpaid carers for people with dementia by 2029.

"It is essential that carers of people with dementia are supported to both manage the impact of a diagnosis and the significant challenges that 24-hour care can have on their lives," she said.

"Alzheimer's Australia encourages carers to seek support to help them cope and reduce the risk of carer burnout."

Artisans for Alzheimer's will feature art, food and entertainment, with doors opening at 6pm in the warehouse behind the Fairy Meadow cafe.

Telephone to register at 4283 2122 or visit facebook.com/Jaffacafefm.