industry & reform
Dementia cases up
Government action urged following
release of new figures.
By Conor Burke
N
ew figures released by Dementia Australia have put
the number of people estimated to be living with
dementia in Australia at 459,000, an increase of around
116,00 since 2015.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare,
in 2015 there were an estimated 342,800 people living with
dementia in Australia, an increase of nearly 100,000 people since
2005. Dementia Australia estimates that by 2058, the number of
people diagnosed with dementia will be over one million.
Federal parliamentarians, government officials and dementia
advocates recently convened with the Parliamentary Friends of
Dementia to consider some practical solutions for transforming
dementia care in Australia.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said that despite the
ongoing royal commission, urgent action is needed now.
“For many people currently receiving care, waiting is not an
option. We can take action now in readiness to ensure dementia
care becomes core business for the aged care sector,” she said.
Dementia Australia’s 2020-21 Federal Pre-Budget Submission
calls for the focus to be on solutions that can start paving the way
to transforming dementia care.
It says these solutions should focus on Dementia Australia’s
strategic priorities for 2018–23, which include quality care,
reducing discrimination and timely diagnosis and support.
“The prevalence of dementia in our community is growing
exponentially,” McCabe said. “Those impacted by dementia across
Australia are seeking decisive action to ensure that the outcomes
for people living with dementia, and their families and carers, are
adequately considered in the context of more generalised health,
disability and aged care reforms, with targeted, translatable action.
“The funding investments outlined in Dementia Australia’s
2020-21 Federal Pre-Budget Submission will represent long-term
savings, not least through more effective use of health, disability
and ageing services, fewer emergency interventions and a focus
on continuous improvement.
“Investing in initiatives that define the pathway to diagnosis,
developing mechanisms to embed quality dementia care, and
reducing the daily discrimination faced by people living with
dementia is absolutely key to making dementia core business in
Australia and truly making a difference to the lives of everyone
who is impacted.”
Dementia Australia dementia advocate Bobby Redman spoke
at the Parliament House event about the barriers she faced in
receiving an initial dementia diagnosis.
“My diagnosis happened because my professional background
as a practising psychologist gave me the knowledge and
understanding that what I was experiencing was not normal, and
the courage to question the GP,” Redman said.
“People living with dementia need faster diagnosis in order to
access early intervention – whether we are a person living with
dementia or a family carer, we are all looking for ways to live
happier, healthier lifestyles as part of our own communities.
“We are counting on the change-makers at the top to help us to
develop ways to make this happen.”
Dementia Australia has also released The Dementia Guide, a
comprehensive resource to support people living with dementia,
their families and carers. The guide can assist everyone to learn
about dementia, treatments, and available support and services.
Phil Hazell, the chair of the Dementia Australia Advisory
Committee, said if the guide had been around when he was
diagnosed, it would have helped him better understand the
disease and its impacts.
“I so wish I had this resource when I was diagnosed with
younger onset dementia. It makes it easy to understand my
dementia and live well.”
The Dementia Guide is available to download for free, or
to request a printed copy, go to dementia.org.au/resources/
the-dementia-guide.
This is the second edition of the Dementia Guide, initially
produced and distributed in 2016. ■
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