New dementia day care centres in NSW: details and locations
Nine new dementia day care centres worth a total of $11.86 million will be built across New South Wales, making life significantly easier for people with dementia, their families and their carers.
The new centres will be jointly funded by the Federal and NSW Governments under the Home and Community Care (HACC) program. They are the first of 16 purpose-designed dementia-specific day care centres that are planned to be built across NSW.
The focus on dementia-specific facilities is a response to the increasing incidence of dementia associated with the ageing of the population.
In 2006 there were over 73,000 people living with dementia in NSW. By 2050 it is estimated the number will increase to 227,000.
Dementia day care centres can provide outings, day trips, diversionary activities, nursing and allied health services to people with dementia. These services also assist their carers to continue in their caring role.
The centres will also provide a day care service, they will also provide respite for carers – a much needed break to the carers of people with dementia who use the services at the centres.
The new facilities will be located across NSW, and provide a variety of services.
Cooma: The Cooma-Monaro Shire Council will be given $1.57 million to purchase land and construct the Werri-Nina Centre, a purpose-built dementia day care centre, including new Meals on Wheels distribution facilities and office space for coordinating community care services in the area.
Central Coast: The Gosford City Council will receive $1.65 million to upgrade the dementia facility at Woy Woy. The centre will provide dementia day care, food services and other HACC services.
Cumberland / Prospect: The Baulkham Hills Shire Council is to receive $1.65 million to refurbish two buildings on its Balcombe Heights Estate, providing dementia day care facilities.
Central West: The Uniting Care Ageing will be given $766,000 for an extension to the Orange Community Care Dementia Day Care centre. The extension is specifically designed for the needs of dementia clients.
Far West: The Walgett Shire Council will be given $1.09 million to construct a new purpose-built dementia day care wing to a recently built HACC services facility in Lightning Ridge.
Far North Coast: In Casino, the Uniting Church will receive $1.287 million to construct a purpose-built ground floor dementia-specific day care centre The service will be located within the grounds of the Casino Uniting Church complex.
Illawarra: Anglicare will be provided $1.65 million to construct a new purpose-built dementia day care centre on Anglicare-owned land at Fairy Meadow, north of Wollongong. The building will also include space for offices for managing the day care service and other HACC services.
Northern Sydney: Willoughby City Council will be given $1.65 million to build a dementia-specific day care centre on council-owned land at Willoughby. The building is designed as two discrete dementia day care centres. The council will lease one area to a HACC service provider and the other to another not-for-profit dementia day care provider.
New England:The Wee Waa and District HACC Association Inc will receive $545,000 to renovate a community cottage facility that presently houses HACC offices, to provide a dementia day care centre.
Wee Waa town has no HACC facilities suitable for group activities and HACC day care and elders services are at present delivered from a licensed club and church halls.
