Dementia Australia welcomes the Federal Government's investment of $200 million for a further 20 Specialist Dementia Care Program units and an expansion of the Hospital to Aged Care Dementia Support Program.
We also applaud the Federal Government's decision to respond to community and sector feedback by reclassifying showering, dressing and continence management as clinical care under Support at Home. This means older Australians will now have the full cost of these services covered.
While other elements of home care – respite, social support and assistive technology – are still live issues for many people, this reclassification represents an important step change in the design and implementation of home care.
Dr Kaele Stokes, Executive Director Services, Engagement and Research, Dementia Australia said there are an estimated 446,500 Australians living with dementia. With two in three of these people thought to be living in the community, support for essential personal care tasks like showering must be accessible to everyone.
"We cannot have people living with dementia avoiding accessing support for personal care because of cost," Dr Stokes said.
"If people do not use these services when they need them it can result in significant downstream impacts, such as admissions to already overburdened acute health and residential aged care."
Dementia Australia also welcomes investment in new residential aged care places as well as new Specialist Dementia Care Program units and an expansion of the Hospital to Aged Care Dementia Support Program.
"We know that people living with dementia are disproportionally impacted when demand for limited care places is high," Dr Stokes said.
"The number of Australians living with dementia is expected to increase to more than one million by 2065, so it is critical that care right across the spectrum is available."
Dr Stokes said whilst she is encouraged by today's $200 million investment announcement and the changes to Support at Home, Dementia Australia will be looking carefully into the wide-ranging NDIS changes also announced.
"Dementia Australia recognises the Government's commitment to ensuring the long‑term sustainability of the NDIS scheme," Dr Stokes said.
