Dementia Australia
Dementia Australia welcomes the announced $17.8 million funding boost for palliative care in Western Australia.
Maree McCabe, CEO Dementia Australia, said the funding will help provide improved support and services for all Western Australians in need of palliative care, including Western Australians living with dementia.
"Dementia Australia thanks the Western Australian Government for delivering on the recommendations of the Joint Committee Report on End of Life Choices through a $17.8 million funding boost for palliative care," Ms McCabe said.
From the $17.8 million funding boost, $9 million will be used to provide an additional 10 inpatient palliative care beds in northern metropolitan suburbs.
Community-based services across both metropolitan and regional Western Australia will be expanded to better meet demand with $6.3 million of the funding.
The remaining $2.5 million will be used for enhancing rural and regional palliative care services by improving governance.
The funding increase is in addition to already allocated palliative care state funding for 2019-20. The extra funding was allocated to help implement the recommendations made in Western Australia's Joint Select Committee Report on End of Life Choices.
"It is a relief to know that people living in rural and regional areas of WA will particularly benefit from this funding and will now hopefully have better access to services closer to home," Ms McCabe said.
"This is a big win, especially for people living with dementia and their carers.
"The funding will go a long way to relieve challenges such as travel times and difficulties in accessing much needed services."
In 2019, there is an estimated 41,630 people living with dementia in Western Australia.
Without a medical breakthrough, the number of people living with dementia is expected to increase to an estimated 56,886 people by 2028 and 107,664 people by 2058.
Dementia Australia is the national peak body and charity for people, of all ages, living with all forms of dementia, their families and carers. It provides advocacy, support services, education and information. An estimated 447,000 people have dementia in Australia. This number is projected to reach almost 1.1 million by 2058. Dementia Australia is the new voice of Alzheimer's Australia. Dementia Australia's services are supported by the Australian Government.
National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 Interpreter service available (The National Dementia Helpline is an Australian Government Initiative) Dementia is a National Health Priority Area www.dementia.org.au
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