$3 million dementia care network launched

Alzheimer’s Australia announced today the establishment of the National Quality Dementia Care Network. The Network is a world first in bringing together researchers and industry and consumers as truly equal partners in dementia care.

The Network will promote collaboration between dementia care researchers, consumers and service providers with the objective of improving the quality of dementia care through the rapid dissemination and uptake of research evidence. Current and future research will be translated into education and training initiatives, policy recommendations and procedures for best practice in dementia care.

The Network will be funded through the generous support of The JO & JR Wicking Trust at ANZ Trustees who granted Alzheimer’s Australia $2,075,000 over three years and an additional $810,000 from Bupa – an international healthcare company with over 10 million customers in more than 190 countries.

“The proposal is unique in involving consumers in all aspects of knowledge transfer, from identifying priorities through to involvement in projects and advising on dissemination strategies,” said Glenn Rees, chief executive officer of Alzheimer’s Australia.

“Alzheimer’s Australia had taken the initiative in the development of the proposal because the quality of dementia care in Australia will only improve if there is greater collaboration between consumers and those with a stake in research, service delivery, training and clinical experience.”

Teresa Zolnierkiewicz, head of philanthropy at ANZ Trustees stated, “An important focus for the Wicking Trust is to fund initiatives that improve the quality of dementia care people receive. This is important for the 243,000 Australians who have dementia today and the one million Australians who care for them in one way or another.

“The Wicking Trust is committed to funding innovation in areas of ageing, particularly dementia with strategic partners such as Alzheimer’s Australia. This Network is an important centrepiece in the Trust’s portfolio.”

Professor Brodaty, director of the Primary Dementia Collaborative Research Centre said, “The three Dementia Collaborative Research Centres funded by the Federal Government are generating new research evidence on dementia care that would benefit from a conduit for interpretation and dissemination. It is a matter for concern that studies have shown that it could take up to 17 years for research evidence to reach clinical practice.

“A great deal is now known about what constitutes good dementia care. The problem is to translate this knowledge to care workers and the Network will provide an important and new opportunity for achieving this.”

Paul Gregerson, managing director of Bupa Care Services Australia said that, “Bupa has a strong commitment to providing quality dementia care through its aged care services, not only in Australia but in the UK, Spain and New Zealand.

“Bupa has a proud record in promoting research and the Network provided a new and innovative opportunity for ensuring that research findings are translated into practice.”

The Network is expected to be operation from mid 2010.