Dementia Australia welcomes the Federal Government's release of a strengthened Charter of Rights that is applicable to residential aged care services and home care providers.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said the Charter would further empower the new Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and promote being treated with dignity.
"We look forward to the implementation of the Charter, specifically in relation to the care of people living with dementia," Ms McCabe said.
The new Charter covers 14 fundamental protections including safe, quality care, independence, information, personal privacy, control, fairness and choice.
"In order for these protections to be realised we need to ensure quality dementia care is an essential focus of the care and support provided through these initiatives and is factored in as core business across the health and aged care sectors," Ms McCabe said.
"More than half of residents living in residential aged care have a diagnosis of dementia and they tend to have much higher care needs than residents who do not have dementia, and approximately 70 per cent of people with dementia live in the community.
"With the prevalence of dementia projected to increase to almost 1.1 million by 2058, we need national safeguards in place that protect the most vulnerable members of our community, and ensure the rights of people living with dementia and older Australians are protected."
Dementia Australia contributed to the development of the Charter in consultation with the government and other stakeholders.
Details of the new Charter are available at https://agedcare.govcms.gov.au/news-and-resources/publications/guides-and-policies/charter-of-aged-care-rights-template-for-signing
