Dementia Supplement needs commitment
Alzheimer’s Australia has expressed concern that money previously committed to replace the Dementia and Severe Behaviours Supplement has not been included in the forward estimates of the governments Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) statements announced this week.
Carol Bennett, Alzheimer’s Australia chief executive, calls for the government to consult with the sector around possible replacements for the Dementia Supplement.
According to Carol Bennett, Alzheimer’s Australia chief executive, “the needs of people with dementia who have severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia require urgent attention. Often this group struggles to get access to the support and care services that they need”.
“We urge the government to develop an alternative to the dementia supplement as a matter of high priority,” Ms Bennett says.
It is noted in the fine print of Attachment A of the MYEFO that the government ‘is considering alternative arrangements’ to the dementia supplement, but no allocation of funding is provided.
The dementia supplement was an essential component of the 2012 Aged Care Reforms, and was recognition of the fact that those with severe Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) do not have access to appropriate care.
In initial consultations with the government, concern was raised about the need to provide high quality support and care to this group of consumers. However, the report on this consultation is yet to be made public, something that Alzheimer’s Australia would like to see occur.
Alzheimer's Australia now urges the government to release the report into the consultation with the sector around possible replacements for the supplement.
Alzheimer’s Australia is pleased that other aspects of the 2012 Aged Care Reforms currently being rolled out, including the Younger Onset Dementia Key Worker Program, the Dementia Home Care Supplement and funding for primary and acute care initiatives, seem to be unaffected by the MYEFO announcement.
There are currently more than 332,000 Australians living with dementia and, with these numbers set to soar to almost 900,000 by 2050, it is important that, in funding residential care, the extra costs of caring for people with dementia are recognised and considered.
