Aged Care Insite Issue 93 | February-March 2016 | Seite 6

news

National
dementia
plan now

Alzheimer’s Australia again sounds the alarm on the
need for a cohesive strategy to take on the disease.

D

ementia is everybody’s business, experts said, after new
figures showed the fatal disease would affect more than
353,800 Australians this year.
Alzheimer’s Australia is calling for a national co-ordinated
approach to tackle the rising rates of dementia, which is the
second-leading cause of death nationally after heart disease.
“It is a condition that does not discriminate and will [have an]
impact socially and economically on every community across

Australia,” Alzheimer’s Australia chief executive Carol Bennett said.
“The estimated cost of dementia to the health and aged-care
system is at least $4.9 billion a year. A national strategy with
measurable outcomes that covers education and awareness,
prevention, timely diagnosis, quality of care and research for a
cure is long overdue.”
The new figures for 2016 from the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare (AIHW) show that an additional 11,000 people will
be living with dementia nationally, compared with the previous
year. The 353,800 estimate is expected to increase to about
400,000 people by 2020 and almost 900,000 by 2050 if a cure or
medical breakthrough is not found.
Bennett said increased awareness in the community was
needed so people could get early diagnosis and be aware of
risk-reduction strategies.
“Brain training, physical activity, heart health – because we
know what’s good for the heart is good for the brain – good diet
and social engagement are showing good results in research for
reducing the impact of dementia and certainly the progression of
dementia to its later stages.”
Alzheimer’s Australia NSW chief executive John Watkins said
that while dementia can be isolating, confusing, confronting and
difficult, people can live well with it, with the right support.
This could include using the new website
livingwellwithdementia.org.au
It contains information and tips as well as personal stories from
people with the disease. ■

Parkinson’s
taboo terrors

Continence Foundation
drags some of the disease’s
lesser-known symptoms
into the spotlight.

H

ealthcare workers attuned
to the hidden bladder and
bowel symptoms of Parkinson’s
are better able to help mitigate their
added burden, and peak bodies are

4

agedcareinsite.com.au

working to raise awareness.
Ahead of World Parkinson’s Day, on April
11, the Continence Foundation of Australia
is shining a light on the disease’s often
unseen and distressing symptoms.
Nearly 70,000 people in Australia are
living with Parkinson’s, a 2014 report from
Deloitte Access Economics states. This is
an increase of 27 per cent in nine