JourneyOnline
The government has announced a new initiative consisting of $54.4 million in funding over four years for people with severe symptoms of dementia in residential care facilities.
“It is very good news,” said Lin Hatfield Dodds, National Director of UnitingCare Australia. “Our agencies provide the largest share of aged care in the country and we are consistently hearing that the challenges of caring for people with dementia are growing. Additional support to assist residential care providers in meeting this challenge is most welcome.”
Approximately one in four people aged 85 and over have dementia. With an ageing population it is expected that nearly 900 000 Australians will be living with the condition by 2050. Today more than half the permanent residents in government-funded aged-care facilities around the country have been diagnosed with dementia.
“This is a growing challenge and the government is right to be trialling a new initiative to improve our capacity to care for this vulnerable group of people. It is a positive step forward both for the people who need specialised care and for the services doing their best to provide that care with limited resources,” said Ms Hatfield Dodds.
