Dementia Australia welcomes the Victorian Government's budget announcement to spend additional funds on improving multicultural aged care facilities and palliative services.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said it was excellent to see the funding of $27.1 million to upgrade facilities at seven multicultural aged care services and to purchase land for three multicultural aged care providers for culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians get the care they need and deserve.
"People living with dementia account for more than 50% of those living in residential aged care and we know that they tend to have much higher care needs than residents who do not have dementia," Ms McCabe said.
"This funding will lead to better outcomes for people of diverse needs living with dementia. "It's fundamental that all Australians, no matter their background, have access to quality aged care."
Dementia Australia also acknowledges the Victorian Government's allocation of $71.9 million to continue support for patients at the end of their lives, including in-home care and specialist services.
"Dementia is the leading cause of death among Australian women and the second leading cause of death for Australians overall," Ms McCabe said.
"Access to high quality palliative care assists people with a terminal condition, including dementia, to live and die well, as well as to ensure their carers, family and friends are supported through any decisions they need to make.
"We look forward to continuing our work with the Victorian Government to ensure people living with dementia, their families and carers are receiving the best, quality dementia care."
For all Victorians local support and information is available for people of all ages, living with all forms of dementia, and their families and carers at www.dementia.org.au or via the National Dementia Helpline by free-calling 1800 100 500.
