Minister calls for public response to Dementia Initiative
Minister for Ageing, Mark Butler has welcomed the release of the independent evaluation of the Dementia Initiative, which will help shape future priorities in supporting people with dementia and their carers, and has called for the public to respond to the evaluation.
The Dementia Initiative seeks to ensure all Australians have access to high quality health services and supportive care services, as well as strengthening the capacity of the health and aged care sectors to provide prevention, intervention, assessment, treatment and care for people with dementia.
Major components of the Dementia Initiative, including the Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Services (DBMAS) and National Dementia Support Program (NDSP) have been extended until June 2013.
Over the next three years (2010-13), $32.9 million (GST exclusive) is committed to the DBMAS and a total of $25.4 million (GST exclusive) is committed to Alzheimer’s Australia for the NDSP.
A consortium comprising La Trobe University, Applied Aged Care Solutions, Melbourne University and Access Economics (LAMA) assessed the performance of the Dementia Initiative and found that it has made a substantial contribution to supporting people living with dementia and their carers, and that early successes of the Initiative could be built on and consolidated.
“We know that 250,000 Australians have dementia, and that one million more Australians are affected by dementia, usually family carers,” Mr Butler said.
“The projections into the future are even more daunting, with almost 600,000 Australians projected to be living with dementia by 2030.
“The extensive evaluation of the Dementia Initiative is going to be an important marker for how we move forward in this area.”
Mr Butler has invited submissions from the public, and the health and aged care sectors to comment on the evaluation, with all submissions to be considered by the Minister and his Dementia Advisory Group. Submissions close at midnight on 5 November.
Submissions can be sent via email to dementia@health.gov.au
